Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

As Italy's Old Lady is flying high and about to take on rival Inter next weekend, it's hard to forget that there is also an important month that has bigger implications than just the final months of the season...

Juventus and the January Transfer Window: Is There Really a Need For a Big Move?

by Danny Penza (Columnist)

24

978 reads

Opinion

November 16, 2008


As Italy's Old Lady is flying high and about to take on rival Inter next weekend, it's hard to forget that there is also an important month that has bigger implications than just the final months of the season.

That, of course, is the January transfer window.

It's no secret that people feel that if Juventus want to be successful, not only in the Champions League but also in Serie A, they will need to spend big.

But with Juve currently one of the hottest teams in all of Europe, one must consider if bringing in a big-time superstar is really what the team needs.

And then there is the Italian media, who is never shy to float names out there that the club might or might not pursue when Jan. 1, 2009 rolls around.



No matter how many moves, if any, Sporting Director Alessio Secco makes; they will be put under the microscope.

And considering Secco's transfer failures in the past—defender Jean-Alain Boumsong and midfielders Sergio Almiron and Tiago Mendes—he will certainly have to hit one of the park to get the fans back on his side.

There are of course the players that the fans want to see signed, with Werder Bremen's attacking midfielder Diego atop the list. The Brazilian international has been linked with a move to Turin over the last 18 months since Juve were promoted back into Serie A.

However, while the fans will want Diego as long as he is not wearing black and white, how he will fit into manager Claudio Ranieri's 4-4-2 system is somewhat unclear. It's no secret that Ranieri prefers two defensive minded center midfielders in his starting squad and if Diego was brought into the mix, Ranieri would certainly have to change his tactics.

Even though there are still six weeks to go before the window opens, there are tons of names, other than Diego, being thrown out there by the press.

The latest one to be thrown out there is Schalke's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who told Italian paper Tuttosport that, if the club signs him, he will doing everything possible to become "Juve's new Zidane."



Author Poll

What does Juve need to do in the January transfer window?

  • Spend some serious cash to get another superstar
  • Add depth in case another run of injuries hits the squad
  • Stay put because the squad is as good as it can get
  • Who knows if Secco is leading things
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

What does Juve need to do in the January transfer window?

  • Spend some serious cash to get another superstar

    69.6%

  • Add depth in case another run of injuries hits the squad

    17.4%

  • Stay put because the squad is as good as it can get

    10.1%

  • Who knows if Secco is leading things

    2.9%
  • Total votes: 69
Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

24 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Thomas 7 months ago

    I think that they shouldn't do anything. If it aint broken don't fix it, right?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  2. Nathan Lowe 7 months ago

    Schweinstegger might be good. They don't need someone like Modric when they have Del Piero. I think Sissoko has looked good, especially last season, and now into this season. I think Saladzimodic is horrible. So, Schweinstegger instead of him would be good. Camoranesi, Schweinstegger, Del Piero, Amauri... pretty nice.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      Sissoko has been one of the players during the current run. You could really tell that he is becoming the leader of the midfield and he is matured considering he isn't making a lot of stupid fouls like he did when he first came to Juve. It's hard to believe that he is only going to be 24 at the end of January.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      I agree, Schw would be good!

      but for now , let the rest be how it is.
      Good article Danny!

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      He would be a good replacement for Nedved. But as you said Michelle, let it be for now with everything working as well as it is.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  3. Dave 7 months ago

    Juve won't sign any top players in Jan. They may need a couple squad players to improve their depth for a run in two competitions. Fullback and a creative CM possibly, though Tiago looks ok now.

    Inter have a major piece missing: creative mid. I would really like to see Hamsik come in Jan since he isnt cup tied for the CL. Otherwise, it will be difficult to go all the way in Europe. Inter all still the strongest, deepest team in Italy and have the best player in Ibra. Should be a good one next week though.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      Left back is certainly something that needs to be looked at. However, I'm a fan of De Ceglie and I know I'm not the only one that feels he is certainly the future at that position. If Tiago keeps improving like he has been in recent weeks, not sure that Juve need to go out and get somebody. I know people love Diego, and for obvious reasons, but he just doesn't fit the system Juve plays with.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  4. illya mclellan 7 months ago

    they definitely need to strengthen their squad if they want to assure a place in next seasons champions league, maybe even have a go at this one if they can get the right players.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      Considering how strong Serie A is this season, it certainly is going to be tough. They are certainly one of the favorites with their current squad right now though.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  5. Amin Malik 7 months ago

    I'd say the move to make is to get rid of transfer "guru" Secco. The man has hindered more than helped Juve and the only worthwhile transfers he has made is Sissoko and Amauri. Meanwhile he's made so many idiotic transfers like Almiron, Tiago, Boumsong, and getting Poulsen instead of Xabi Alonso.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      I think that is the vision of a lot of Juve fans...including this one. Including the players he signed that you mentioned, he also tried to sell Chiellini to Man City last summer, was reportedly using Giovinco in the deal for Amauri, and has loaned out some younger players that could have really helped the team in terms of depth.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  6. Marzia Hazra 7 months ago

    I agree with Thomas on this, no need to fix things that aren't broken.
    Juve are doing great and just like you said Danny, the injured players are returning one by one and by the time most of the players are back there is no discussing the strength of the squad. Can't wait for Saturday!!!!!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      Exactly. Slow but surely the injuries are going away and especially for the long-term injuries, they are basically like new players. Zanetti hasn't played this season, Trez has barely played, and Buffon played the first month or so. So with those three coming back, the squad greatly improves, and no money is spent.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  7. Yoosof Farah 7 months ago

    in my opinion, juve have a good enough squad as it is. i sure wish my local team gillingham fc had a squad like that! it will happen one day. anyway, good article daniel.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      hahaha I think a lot of teams wish they had the talent that Juve has. Thanks for the kind words as always my friend.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  8. Shyam Parthasarathi 7 months ago

    Around 6 weeks back, Marzia wrote an article about how Juve were all over the place and I said that one or two results can spark a good run of form - the same can happen with bad results.

    So, I think that we should wait for another 6 weeks, which will take us to January and then assess Juve's form - January will come soon enough for teams like Arsenal, but for Juve, as of now there is not much of a need for alterations.

    Then again, all our opinions might change in a matter of 6 weeks!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Danny Penza 7 months ago

      Very well said. It would be naive to think that this form will last the rest of the season. I certainly hope it does, but I'm sure it won't considering how competitive Serie A is.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  9. Maire Ofeire 7 months ago

    Juve are doing great at the moment but all that could change, a bad injury - a bad run etc. So i'm sure in January if a replacement is needed then Juve will buy.

    I would love for Juve to finish above Inter (I want AC Milan to win of course) just for the Tinkerman to stick two fingers up at Mourinho ha ha

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  10. Apostolos Exarchos 7 months ago

    DIEGO CAPEL WOULD BE EXCITING TO WATCH @ JUVE. ANY TAKERS

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  11. MUhammad Vicky 6 months ago

    JUventus You mUst BuyinG tOp plYEr LiKE As AqUiLani And Star Player

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.