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Ranieri wants Cassano or Silva
Monday 2 March, 2009
Juventus Coach Claudio Ranieri has given the clearest indication yet that the Bianconeri will move for either Antonio Cassano or David Silva this summer.
The Turin giants are eager to replace the 36-year-old Pavel Nedved who retires at the end of this season after eight years with the club.
Juventus have drawn up a shortlist of players capable of filling Nedved's position on the left side of midfield that includes Cassano, Silva, Diego and Franck Ribery.
When asked if the Bianconeri were considering Cassano and Silva, Ranieri replied: “Yes, we are looking for a man who will give us a jump in quality.
“We are working towards being great again,” Ranieri told Controcampo. “To buy a player today is difficult when you consider the costs.
“Cassano is a very good player,” Ranieri explained before giving a more detailed assessment of Spain international Silva.
“I have known him since he was a little boy. I put him in the first team at Valencia. Even then you could see what kind of a player he would turn out to be.”
Ranieri then spoke about the future and how Juventus can overhaul Inter and get back to the top of the Italian game.
“The reality is that in the last few years Inter have managed to build a great team and we have to build one, too.
“There is now a great club here, there is the structure, but there isn't the Arab, Russian, American or even Italian money to help us.”
Ranieri later responded to criticism that his Juventus side win too many games in an ugly fashion like they did against Napoli on Saturday.
“I am satisfied with the win. We got back from London at 5 o'clock on Thursday morning and were back on the pitch on Saturday evening.
“I said to the team that it suits me fine if they win and that's it. That's enough, even if they win playing badly.”
“When they criticise me as if the comparison were with the Juventus of three years ago, it's a great satisfaction for me, because if I had the team Fabio Capello had…”
Juventus currently lie second in Serie A and still have a shot at winning the title. Inter's lead at the top of the table was cut to seven points at the weekend.
There are just 12 games remaining this season and the Bianconeri are back in action on Saturday when they take on Torino in the Derby della Mole.
Forza Ranieri