adminMILAN. — Juventus chief executive Beppe Marotta has warned the loss of key players won’t put the brakes on their bid for a record-equalling fifth consecutive scudetto, which begins tomorrow with the visit of Udinese.
The Turin giants notably sold midfielders Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC) and Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) and striker Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors) over the summer.
But the “Old Lady” has responded in style, adding to the capture of Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), on a free transfer, Paulo Dybala (Palermo) and Mario Mandzukic (Atletico Madrid) by signing highly-rated Brazilian defender Alex Sandro from FC Porto on Thursday.
Marotta said another “top midfielder” could join the club prior to the summer transfer deadline but in the meantime he is “optimistic” Juve will again be the team to catch this season.
“The departures of Tevez, Pirlo and Vidal were obviously significant, but there was nothing we could do,” Marotta told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“But we’ve taken stock of the situation, and acted accordingly.”
Juventus (twice), Torino and Inter Milan are the only teams in Italy to have won five consecutive league titles.
Marotta added: “I don’t know if we’re stronger or weaker than we were last season, but Juve is Juve and we can’t be anywhere else but on top.
“Personally, I’m very optimistic.”
Juventus’s fourth straight league trophy last season was complemented by their first Cup triumph in 20 years and their first appearance in the final of the Champions League since 2003.
Although their dream of an unprecedented club treble was kept in check by Barcelona in Berlin, their achievement in reaching the final gave a massive shot in the arm to an ailing Serie A as well as boosting their own reputation as a team to be reckoned with among Europe’s elite.
Roma, runners-up the past two seasons, have every right to envy Juve’s honours list having won their last scudetto in 2001.
Yet Malian midfielder Seydou Keita believes Roma, for the third year in succession, can emerge as Juve’s biggest challengers.
Fixtures
Today: Verona v Roma (7pm), Lazio v Bologna (9:45pm)
Tomorrow: Juventus v Udinese (7pm), Frosinone v Torino, Fiorentina v AC Milan, Inter Milan v Atalanta, Sampdoria v Carpi, Palermo v Genoa, Sassuolo v Napoli, Empoli v Chievo
Online Reporter