Capello to drop Del Piero Saturday 27 August, 2005
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Alessandro Del Piero looks set to start from the bench against Chievo, while Fabio Capello denies asking Antonio Cassano to join Juve.
“Del Piero is one of 25 players at my disposal and will be treated just the same as everyone else,” snapped Capello, clearly weary of the Press attention on this issue.
This will only boost reports that the captain’s time in Turin is over and that he is looking for a move to Milan in order to help his World Cup chances.
It’s expected that the Zlatan Ibrahimovic-David Trezeguet partnership will be the first choice, starting from Sunday night’s meeting with Chievo at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
Del Piero’s position could be further complicated if reports that Cassano will make the move up to Turin are to believed.
“It really isn’t my style to ring up players individually,” insisted the former Roma boss. “Cassano is a Giallorossi player and I hope he has a great season for the good of Italian football at large.”
Nonetheless, with the transfer deadline only days away, newspapers in the peninsula continue to maintain there will be a massive swap deal with Adrian Mutu, Giorgio Chiellini and a cash sum in exchange for the fiery Italian international.
If Del Piero is to sit on the bench, then Christian Abbiati steps into the limelight for his first Serie A match for Juve following his arrival on loan from Milan – a form of apology for indirectly causing Gianluigi Buffon’s shoulder injury.
“Abbiati is a goalkeeper who is worthy of a place in the Italy side,” insisted Capello. “Juve represent an important opportunity for him and he came here with great character and motivation.”
The Bianconeri are looking to the future and have signed young Brazilian central defender Gladstone Pereira della Valentina. The 20-year-old arrives on loan from Cruzeiro at a cost of £100,000 with an option to buy at the end of the season for £1.3m.
Juve squad:
4 Vieira, 6 Kovac, 7 Pessotto, 8 Emerson, 9 Ibrahimovic, 10 Del Piero, 11 Nedved, 12 Chimenti, 13 Miccoli, 14 Balzaretti, 16 Camoranesi, 17 Trezeguet, 18 Mutu, 19 Zambrotta, 20 Blasi, 21 Thuram, 23 Giannichedda, 24 Olivera, 25 Zalayeta, 27 Zebina, 28 Cannavaro, 32 Abbiati
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