Top 10 South American Juventini of All Time

By: alessio | November 27th, 2008

[From Channel4...]

Happy Thanksgiving to all Yanks out there. For all Canucks, get with the program. Thanksgiving is in November, not October! Canadian tennis, Canadian football, Canadian bacon….you guys just can’t help tweaking things to your own liking, eh? I’ll be in Chicago this weekend so no more posts from me. Enjoy the break.

10. Rinaldo Martino (Argentina)
A fancy attacking midfielder who was blessed with great ball control, a terrific shot and an eye for goal. Nicknamed Velvet Foot, Juventus signed him from San Lorenzo in 1949 and he immediately paid them back with 18 goals in 33 games as the Scudetto was won. Struggling with homesickness, he left after just one campaign.

9. Sidney Cunha Cinesinho (Brazil)
The laboured midfielder excelled thanks to his speed of thought and illuminating vision. He was in his 30s when he left Catania for Turin, but the Brazilian was a class element of Heriberto Herrera’s side. Joined Vicenza after winning a Scudetto and Coppa Italia in 1967 and 1965 respectively.

8. Pedro Sernagiotto (Brazil)
A fan favourite, the silky Brazilian wide-man was known as the Golden Arrow. Standing at just 1.55m short, Pedro was signed in 1932 to replace the mythical Federico Munerati. He won the Scudetto in 1933 and ’34, contributing 14 goals in 50 games to those successes. He returned to Brazil after two seasons.

7. Jose Altafini (Brazil)
Signed as a 34-year-old, the Brazil and Italy striker was used as a super sub after prolific spells at Milan and Napoli. The now popular pundit spent four years in Turin where his goals helped the club to their 15th and 16th titles in 1973 and ’75. He left for Chiasso in 1976.

6. Mauro Camoranesi (Argentina)
A technically gifted right-winger who has become a regular following his 2002 move from Verona. Regarded so highly by Marcello Lippi that the latter had to re-invent Gianluca Zambrotta as a full-back so they could play together. An Oriundo, like others on this list, he should surpass Luis Monti’s appearance tally for the club.

5. Paolo Montero (Uruguay)
The no-nonsense stopper who, along with Ciro Ferrara, was the cornerstone of Juventus’ defence. He won 10 titles in his nine years at the club following his move from Atalanta in 1996. Although red-carded a record 16 times in Serie A, Montero could tackle without the use of an elbow – when he wanted to.

4. Renato Cesarini (Argentina)
A member of the mythical side which won five straight Scudetti from 1931 onwards. A midfielder with a knack for crucial late goals – hence the term Zona Cesarini – he was strong in the air and on the ground. Cè, born in Italy prior to emigrating to Argentina, scored 50 goals in 147 games. He also bossed the club during two spells.

3. Raimundo Orsi (Argentina)
One of the stars of the 1928 Olympics, the thin but elegant Orsi joined Juventus in 1929 where he would play a vital part on the left wing as La Vecchia Signora dominated the Italian game with five consecutive titles. He rejoined Independiente in 1935 but not before 87 goals in 194 games.

2. Luis Monti (Argentina)
Overweight and over 30 when signed in 1931, the midfielder who walked had retired from the game when Juventus called. Blessed with a supreme sense of positioning, the powerful Luisito won four Scudetti, an Italian Cup and the 1934 World Cup as an Oriundo. With 263 games, no other Argentine has appeared more for the Old Lady.

1. Omar Sivori (Argentina)
A devil of a player in every sense. Equipped with a fiery temper and socks around his ankles, the trickster joined in 1957 from River Plate. During his time in Turin, he collected a slap from John Charles but also the 1961 Golden Ball, three Scudetti and three Italian Cups. El Cabazon netted 167 goals in 253 games.