David Trezeguet admits Barcelona made a bid for him this summer, but he stayed to help Juve earn their “30th Scudetto.”

The Frenchman had been heavily linked with a switch to Spain for the last two years and confirms there was some truth in the newspaper reports.

“It is true that a top class club like Barcelona and Coach Pep Guardiola contacted me. They wanted me to go to the Nou Camp,” he told France 2 television.

“This year we’ve got Serie A and the Champions League to fight for, which is certainly not bad!

“There are two stars on our shirts and we are aware that if we win the Scudetto, which for me personally would be the fifth, then we’ll have another star on there.”

Just like I said about the Trezeguet rumors,I can understand the whole selling-and-buying-more but these five guys are legends, they mean so much to the fans and to Juventus that I want to see them all finish out their careers in Black-and-White, no matter how much anyone offers. They’ve showed unbelievable dedication to the team and we need to repay that.

“As hard as it is for fans to remember, no one player is greater than the outfit he plays for. Names come and go but the club must endure. And if by moving to Manchester City Buffon could give Juventus the resources necessary to reclaim the Scudetto and Champions League, he will have made one last great save for the Bianconeri.”

JUVENTUS
Status: Third in Serie A
Nickname: Bianconeri and The Old Lady
UEFA Ranking: 16th

GettyImages

Christian Poulsen
THE RECORD: The Champions League without the presence of the 1985 and 1996 champions lacked one of its traditional star names, so the return of Italy’s Old Lady will give the competition an additional edge this season.

Coach Claudio Ranieri has done well to continue the rebuilding process at Juve after their high-profile fall from grace when the Italian match-fixing scandal hit the headlines in 2006 and now comes their biggest test of all against Europe’s elite.

COACH’S CORNER: Ranieri has been forced to wait for his return to the Champions League after he guided Chelsea to a semi-final before his sacking from the Stamford Bridge club in 2004.

Since then, the affable Italian has had spells in charge of Valencia and Parma before he accepted the challenge at Juve last summer. A third place finish last season gave him a passage back to the European elite and he is relishing the chance to take on the best on the continent again.

‘The Champions League should have Juventus in its line-up and I’m delighted to be the coach to take them back,’ says the coach famed for his tendency to tinker with his line-up on a regular basis.

THE STAR TURN: Alessandro Del Piero has filled the role of Juve’s star man for what seems like a generation and he deserves to hang onto his star status for this Champions League challenge after his stunning return to form last season.

The club skipper’s brand of skills and powerful finishing make him a formidable force and even though he was approaching his 34th birthday he finished last season as Serie A’s top scorer. Del Piero’s experience could be vital for Ranieri when the heat is applied in the Champions League.

THE NEW FACE: New arrival Amauri faces stiff competition for a first team spot as established Juve stars Del Piero and David Trezeguet guard their first team places jealously, but this free-scoring Brazilian could just give Ranieri the firepower he needs in the Champions League.

Previously with Chievo and Palermo, Amauri’s lengthy stay in Italy means he may turn out for the Italian national team. Having never represented his native Brazil, he admits he may be tempted to turn out for the Azzurri and believes his move to Juve will boost his international hopes. ‘When you play for a great club like Juventus, everyone has to take notice,’ says Amauri.

THE WILD CARD: Christian Poulsen’s arrival from Sevilla did not go down well with some Juventus fans who did not believe the Danish midfielder was the sort of quality performer they needed in the midfield.

His troubled disciplinary track record means he may be something of a risky signing, but his passing ability could give Juve an extra dimension in the Champions League.

YOUNG GUN: Italian youngster Sebastian Giovinco spent the second half of his summer playing at the Olympic Games and believes his experiences in Beijing were the perfect preparation for what he hopes will be his first successful season at Juve.

After proving his worth during an extended loan spell at Empoli last season, this talented attacking midfielder with excellent ball control hopes he will get his chance in the Champions League this season. ‘I know it will be very difficult for me to make it at Juve because there are so many experienced players in the club, but I’m optimistic I can make it,’ says the 21-year-old.

WORD ON THE STREET: Juve supporters were hoping this would be the summer that saw their club challenge to capture some of the game’s top talent for the first time in many a year, yet they have voiced the disappointment at the arrival of Scandinavian stars Christian Poulsen and Olof Mellberg.

‘Some are looking at our rivals and believe they have made better signings than us, but I have faith in my squad and the results will tell us whether we have it right or not,’ was Ranieri’s response the criticism.

Despite some pessimism, the strike force on offer to Ranieri looks certain to be a threat in the Champions League. Can he fit Del Piero, Trezeguet, Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta in the same side?

VERDICT: An instant return to the very top may be too much to ask for Juventus, but a place in the knock-out stages should not be out of reach.

Amen to that.