Juventus now in safe hands
Football Italia - August 1999
Dutch international Edwin Van Der Sar will be the new man keeping goal for Juventus next season after Angelo Peruzzi's request to leave the club was accepted. It was a case of replacing the best with the best for the Turin giants as they snapped up the former Ajax goalkeeper in a �6.4m deal.
The Dutch international, reportedly a Manchester United and Lazio target, has been asked to step into the Inter-bound Peruzzi's boots and perform the same minor miracles that the Italian international produced in his eight years with the Bianconeri.
It will be an odd sight for the Juve faithful that have become so accustomed to Peruzzi's short stocky figure acting as the last line of defence as new man Van Der Sar measures in at 1.97m. Van Der Sar has secured a four-year deal with the Old Lady and will net around �700,000 a season. At 29 he has stacks of experience at club level and over 30 caps for his country which will serve Juventus well as they look to start a new winning cycle. With Ajax he won five championships, three domestic trophies, plus a UEFA Cup in 1992 and a European Cup in 1995. A year later he lost his personal duel with Peruzzi when Juventus defeated Ajax on penalties to lift the European Cup.
Van Der Sar was full of praise for his predecessor at his official presentation. "Along with Peter Schmeichel and Fabien Barthez, Peruzzi is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and it won't be easy to replace him. But Juventus came looking for me and I had no hesitation in signing." Vice President Roberto Bettega seemed more than happy with Juve's latest recruitment: "Perhaps we wouldn't have mad this decision had Peruzzi not asked to leave, but we have looked for the best to replace the best." Edwin is a product of the world-famous Ajax youth system and took his chance with the Dutch side after replacing Stanley Menzo in Amsterdam. He became a firm favourite with Louis Van Gaal and when the Coach left to manage Barcelona, Van Der Sar was pencilled in on his shopping list. However the 'keeper, unlike a lot of his teammates, decided to respect his contract with the club that had helped form his career.
With the 'total football' philosophy of the Dutch, he became more than comfortable with the ball at his feet. Bettega has commented that this sort of control is vital for modern day 'keepers and this is one clear advantage that Van Der Sar has on Peruzzi. Foreign goalkeepers historically have not made the grad in Italian football, but Juventus are confident that they are in safe hands with tall boy Edwin. As for the player himself, he will be out to prove that he is worthy of that No 1 which will be stitched firmly on his back.
