[dst]

Juventus insist they will not be forced into selling their star names, despite the club's relegation to Serie B.

The Old Lady have been demoted, and must also start next season with a
30-point penalty, for their role in the Italian match-fixing scandal.

The punishment, which will be appealed, means Juventus will face an uphill battle
to claim an immediate return to the top flight.

Several players have been tipped to leave the Stadio Delle Alpi as a result of
the verdict, with Fabio Cannavaro wanted by Real Madrid and Chelsea.

Patrick Vieira is reportedly a target for Internazionale and Manchester United,
while French team-mate David Trezeguet is being chased by Lyon.

Veteran defender Lilian Thuram is being tracked by North London duo Arsenal
and Tottenham Hotspur, along with Barcelona, whose Spanish rivals Real want
Gianluca Zambrotta and Emerson.

But, while accepting it will be hard to persuade key players to stay in Turin,
Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gilli will not freely sanction a fire sale.

"I have hopes that some of our most important players will stay," affirmed
Cobolli Gilli.

"We have just seen eight of our players playing in a World Cup final.

"Now it's clear, a big part of them will have big problems in staying with us in
Serie B with a 30-point deduction, even if I don't want to think that, at the end,
the penalty will be so.

"This verdict forbids the best players in the world from continuing playing
in a competitive league, with the serious risk they could go abroad."

Fabio Capello quit as Juventus coach last week to take over at Real Madrid,
but Cobolli Gilli is adamant the former boss will not easily be reunited with his
old players.

He added: "Capello left us immediately before this verdict.

"Anyway, it's clear that we won't sell off our players, they will leave with
adequate prices.

"Who wants them must pay because we have the duty to defend the club's
heritage. Should Real Madrid want our players, they will have to pay."


Planet Football

This post has been edited by dst: Jul 15 2006, 12:32 PM

[han2503]

Give us Zambrotta, Buffon and Cannavaro and you can give your whole damn squad to Real for all I care.

[KillerMax]

Give us Zambrotta, Buffon and Cannavaro and you can give your whole damn squad to Real for all I care.

Oh hell yeah! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif)