OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Martin Caceres Returns to Juventus

By: Danny | January 27th, 2012

In the back of my mind, I always had hope that one day Martin Caceres would again wear bianconero.

He was one of the few good things to happen to Juventus in a 2009-10 campaign full of absolute suck. He was everything that Juventus hadn’t been that season. He filled a void at right back that our beloved Old Lady had been looking to fill in a post-Calciopoli world. And even though he was on loan, he showed plenty of talent and promise and played with a certain grinta that made it easy to become a fan of his.

Caceres_Marchisio_Lazio_vs_Juve_Sept2009

But the realization was that when he went back to Barca after his season-long loan spell ended — and subsequently sold to Sevilla for a bag of balls and a candy bar — the prospects of the high-sock wearing Uruguayan coming back to Turin were not all that bright. It wasn’t because Beppe Marotta didn’t rate him, but due to the fact that Barcelona weren’t budging from the fixed price (€12 million) that was established in the original deal.

And when there were rumors of a potential return, it seemed like they might be too good to be true. We all know how the Italian press can be. They are the ultimate tease. Worse than anything there is. Damn rumor mongering fools they are.

Ah, I love being proven wrong.

That’s right. After weeks upon weeks of hearing about it in the Italian rags, the much-talked about return to Turin for Mr. Caceres is now official after Juve and Sevilla agreed to a initial loan for a fee of €1.5 million with an option to buy set at another €8 million.

Can this week get any better? Amauri is gone forever. Juventus are in the semifinals of the Coppa Italia with Milan as the opponent. Il Capitano scores his first goal in the brand new stadio. And now, Caceres to Juventus 2.0 becomes a reality and not just something all of us wished for.

It’s a fantastic move. Not only for the player himself — who has made his admiration for Juventus no secret in recent months — but for the club he is coming back to. He is exactly the kind of defender that you’d expect an Antonio Conte-led team to have. He is as versatile as it gets. Right back? Sure. Left back? Sure. Center back? You better believe it.

He gives Conte plenty of options. If the Mister wants to go to a three-man defense, he can do that now. If he wants to give Stephan Lichtsteiner a rest, he can go right ahead and do that, too. If he wants Martin to become the starting left back, there’s no reason think why he shouldn’t be able to succeed there.

Bentornato a casa, Martin!

Some Related Juventus Posts:

Category: Team News

« Game Time Thread: Coppa Quarterfinals, Juventus vs. AS Roma | Home | Round 20 Preview/Game Thread: Protect This House »

SJ_JUVE

anyone else hoping elia will be picked for bench ahead of krasic n hoping he gets some minutes.
Refly

If Conte goes 3-5-2 I don't see where he could be deployed, but yes, I'm hoping to see more of him.
SJ_JUVE

maybe towards the end he can give elia some minutes by changing formation/putting him as one of the front 2/or even at wingback (as he does trackback alot)
vidder911

Agree...looks like a 3-5-2 unless Udinese scores early...then we'll switch to a 4-3-3 with giach and Esti covering the flanks...
vidder911

Elia is injured.
djp4cal

Then why did he get called up?
vidder911

He was injured, but will have to pass a pre-game fitness test...
Sampath

no, he passed a fitness test in training and that's why he is in the team.
djp4cal

Bingo
Marco P.

I know Cáceres's got long hair and all but...

BentornatO a casa, Martin :P

Other than that, great post! :P w00t for Martin!
djp4cal

GODDAMMIT MARCO. I must consult you next time I try to use Italian in a post of mine.
Marco P.

YOU OBVIOUSLY MUST!
djp4cal

FINE. I WILL.
Arunashamal

ok. now bring back Diego.
SJ_JUVE

lets get real, trezeguet has higher chance of returning - despite just joining River plate - then deigo. he is a trequarista n we dont have any room for him on the squad right now. n he isnt exactly that good.
amirnyc

wow martin numero quattro !! benvenuti !!
mue

my apology to all people here..
but in my country (and i believe in italy too), now is january 28th..

means: it's GIANLUIGI BUFFON's BIRTHDAY..TANTI AUGURI BUFFON!!!
djp4cal

There is no need to apologize when wishing San Gigi a happy birthday!
dwicarta

26 passes to produce Estigarribia's good chance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Six of them are Pirlo's (including one key pass to Quagliarella)... Crucial.
djp4cal

OOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Mitchwants30thScudetto

Cool Stats there. This is really the main difference between last year and this year. To show you the worth of Pirlo in the middle. Man o Man that kid Marrone is impressing me more and more. No wonder conte has nothing but praises for him. Hope for another win tomorrow so we can start having a run of 3 4 5 6 7 wins in a row
Refly

The commentators keep saying: just look at Pirlo's head. Yes, I know, his hair is fabulous.
MC

Are those the Gol commentators speaking? Or is that a review that was posted on youtube after the game?
djp4cal

The Gol ones. They are awful.
Refly

Welcome Back Martin. Stephan + Giorgio + Martin has badass written all over it.

Now let's kick Udine's behind.
ViallI

MGS. Metal Gear Solid.
Or
(M)artin + (A)ndrea + (G)iorgio + (S)tephan. MAGS.

UNLEASHED !
runekai250

U do know martin is nt called up
Refly

I think he meant for the future.
mue

and milan get maxi lopez..

merda will try their upmost power to get guarin and tevez..
this will be interesting
SJ_JUVE

n will end up getting none
S_Domini

Love this. I too have always wanted Caceres back in black n white. I thought it was, hands down, Marotta's biggest mistake to not sign him after the spirit he showed in a dour, pathetic season.

And before anyone jumps in and says Barca wanted too much money remember that Juve agreed on the price ahead of time. Marotta can't keep making loan deals and then expect a cheap, low-ball deal at the end a la Liverpool / Aquilani.

Also, think about where that money went instead. Which would you rather have:

a) Caceres + Giovinco = 12m

b) Motta + Martinez = 12m

think about that for a minute...
fiQ

Bitch please. Amauri 22.8 million!
Wondermaker

Totally agree with you, but everything happens for a reason. If we had Caceres, I don't think we would have gone for Lichsteiner and now we have both. All's well that ends well.
SJ_JUVE

no offense but secco made that deal for 12mil, caceres was not worth that. even now 9.5mil seems a bit steep, but considering he has done well against big teams like barca, n is a world cup semi-finalist n a copa america winner, n i dont think there is anyone as good and as versatile as him in defense. so 9.5 seems ok. I can bet with u marotta even today would not have paid 12mil.

if i m not mistaken martinez alone was 12mil but mistaken happens. just as i feel bringing in giovinco will be one. He has been good but i cant see him flourishing in a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. I might be wrong but i sticking by it, in fact i dont hink he sit any of conte's formations just like krasic.

Conte requires pressing n tracking back from every player, even vucinic does it (quags, adp n elia used to it before conte) n giovinco not only doesnt do it but i dont think he can do it due to his physical stature.
Motion ™

giovinco has a similar structure to del piero! not saying they are the same but u cant criticize like that.. pepe was poor last season.. same with marchisio.. pirlo was also poor

all we can say is lets wait
mue

with all mumbo jumbo against Juve, i dont think Conte will call him up again..

giovinco is to mentally-small, not ready to sweat and bleed for this team.. even /il pinturicchio /himself is ready to be benched.. who gio thinks he is to complaining that much?

pardon me, but that is a conclusion i take from all the giovinco saga..
SJ_JUVE

similar structure but del piero is buffed, he can take on n make a challenge n not only last season, what i have season from him this season he is pretty much the same just that now he getting playing time at second striker position. we knew he had talent n he is showing that.

marchisio just needed to play at center midfield n pirlo needed players that can help him out. pepe is also playing on the position that suit him most that is wing forward. couple with conte's strategy, but as i said the most important thing is pressing n tracking back n giovinco doesnt seem to have enough strength to do it.

That said if conte is asking for him, then IN CONTE WE TRUST!
enzoch

but conte wants giovinco.. that means he knows what that kid can do, or what he can make gio do for his team. So let him back!
adp1974

how do you know he wants him?
mue

one thing i do know..

pasquato is back..

lecce terminated his loan..
he expected to return to vinovo at monday..maybe tuesday..