http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul22d.html
Deschamps wanted Cannavaro Saturday 22 July, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juventus boss Didier Deschamps has conceded that he’s disappointed to have lost Fabio Cannavaro to Real Madrid.
The Frenchman was hoping to keep the 33-year-old at the club following their demotion, but the stopper was tempted by the idea of La Liga rather than Serie B football.
“I was hoping to keep him. Not only for what he does on the pitch, but also for his leadership qualities off it,” stated the newly appointed Juve Coach.
“The club did their best to keep him, but it wasn’t enough. However, we can’t look to the past now, we have to look to the future.”
Having also lost Emerson to Real Madrid, Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram to Barcelona, with Patrick Vieira desperately close to Inter, Deschamps is praying that some of the club’s established stars don’t join the exodus train.
“Some important players have gone, let’s hope a few stay. Who? It’s hard to say at this stage,” added the former Monaco tactician.
“The club has to take into account a lot of aspects, such as the economical view. After all, a Juventus in B is different from a Juventus in A.”
Deschamps was given a boost last week, though, when goalkeeper Gigi Buffon committed his future to the club and he’s hoping that his former French international teammate David Trezeguet will do the same.
“Buffon? He’ll stay. I’m 100 per cent certain because he’s told me that fact,” noted the game’s most famous water carrier.
“Trezeguet? I hope he remains. I know him well and you can’t doubt his qualities. But at the moment he is on holiday and I can’t be sure that he will stay. It’s the same situation with Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“Robert Kovac? I’m 99 per cent sure that he will not leave. The club want to keep him and that is the end of the matter,” he added.
“My work will be based around the three new players [Valeri Bojinov, Marco Marchionni and Cristiano Zanetti] and youngsters like Mirante, Paro and Palladino who are already used to Serie A and Masiello who knows about Serie B.
“I don’t think the squad will be revolutionised from what I have at the minute. There could be a maximum of three new players in order for the squad to have 25 members.”