Juve's Edgar Davids has ordered a special pair of boots from NIKE called Air Total '90. Under specific instructions from the Dutch international, they have some sort of steel lining with special lacing.

Sunday Oliseh made only fleeting appearances for Juventus in the first half of the season. But it didn't stop Nigeria electing him captain for the African Nations' Cup campaign. "It's a great responsibility in a team where everyone is a star," said the midfielder. "The armband signifies responsibility and authority and the players respect you for that."

Antonio Giraudo is to press the Italian Federation for a Premiership-style 3-up 3-down system. "Four teams relegated every season is too much for squads of this quality," says the Juventus Director.

Not often a Coach gets one over a player-especially one of the calibre of Zinedine Zidane. But Aime Jacquet's memoirs, published after he steered France to their 1998 World Cup victory, was his country's best-selling biography last year. It sold 258,000 copies compared to 148,500 by the Juventus superstar on the same topic.

Real Madrid President Lorenzo Sanz has some cheek. He said he'd consider loaning out Nicolas Anelka to Juventus in return for Zinedine Zidane. Seems he's ready to unload the former trouble Arsenal striker after his dismal start in Spain. ZZ looks likely to end his career there, but not yet.

Juventus may have won their UEFA Cup tie against Omonia Nicosia 10-2, but some fans are still not happy. During the team's next training sessions, tifosi put up banners and chanted slogans against directors and players. Paolo Montero was so incensed he got into a heated debate with them before being dragged away.

Nicola Amoruso has renewed his contract with Juventus for another five years and will earn �1m per season. Although unable to oust Alex Del Piero, Pippo Inzaghi or Darko Kovacevic, he's been given the best of all worlds by getting a regular game by being loaned to Perugia.

Zinedine Zidane is the new and first male face of Christian Dior. He will promote Eau Sauvage, the fragrance with the slogan 'virile, discreet and fresh.' A spokesperson for the couture house said: "The fragrance sells particulary well in Latin countries where Zidane is a big star."

Shame to see Didier Deschamps depart the Italian scene after five excellent years with Juventus where he's won virtually every top honour. The French World Cup-winning skipper obviously leaves with regrets, admitting new club Chelsea are some way behind his old one. "They've nothing to match the organisational level of things at Juve, but it is a club busy making itself professional." Wonder how they'll take that down the King's Road?

Zinedine Zidane is still reeling from reports branding him a wimp because of his wife's remarks about wanting to leave Turin to find a new club by the sea. The World Cup winner denies Veronique wears the trousers in his household. Although hurt by criticism inside the club, he's decided to stay at least another season with Juventus.

What do President De Gaulle, Charlie Chaplin and Joan of Arc have in common with Juve's Zinedine Zidane? Simple. The World Cup winner in France's 3-0 defeat of Brazil and World Player of the Year, has been honoured with a place as a wax dummy along side the rest in a Paris museum.

Roma Coach Zdenek Zeman and Juve veteran Angelo Di Livio (above) have been squaring up. Roma-born Di Livio says: "Roma complain too much. They spend the entire time crying about the referees. Everyone finds them annoying, even their own fans." Zeman's sardonic reply: "I don't think he's needed to complain about Juve's treatment from referees in the past. Besides, last summer he was phoning me constantly, doing everything he could to move to Roma. He's just bitter now."

Lippi is back at Juventus. Not Marcello, but son Davide. The 21-year old has been appointed alongside Andrea Agnelli and is currently living in his father's old flat in Crocetta. A promising midfielder with local club Viareggio, he moved to C1A side Livorno but then rescinded his contract with the Tuscan outfit.

Carlo Ancelotti started off his career at Juventus with victories at Piacenza - their first away from home in five months - and against Vicenza. They coincided with a return to form of Frenchman Zinedine Zidane and anti-Lippi man Didier Deschamps. What was Ancelotti's verdict? "These were hardly games to go out and play beautiful football. We'll just take the points to help us work with a bit less pressure."

Juventus defender Paolo Montero, famed for having the worst disciplinary record in Serie A history, now has a criminal record to boot. Police stopped the Uruguayan when driving his Porsche Carrera while not in possession of a valid driver's licence. His car was impounded and now he has to take a taxi to training.

World-Cup winning French forward Thierry Henry must have forgotten where he was when siging for Juventus. The 21-year old, who cost the Turin club over �9m, told supporters his inspiration was Marco Van Basten. Juve fans don't like Milan players - even old heroes.

Zinedine Zidane may win applause for his silky skills on the field. But when he turned up in Barcelona to receive the World Player of the Year trophy he also earned a Wurzal Gummage award for his untidy appearance. On his salary you might have though he could have afforded a decent suit and tie.

It's not all misery for Juve fans. Naomi Campbell tuned up to watch their clash with Perugia and when things weren't going their team's way, more heads were turned towards the model than the pitch.

Juve's international striker Filippo Inzaghi has revealed in his autobiography that he originally wanted to play in goal. "I liked the sensation of scoring my first goal and from then on I abandoned the idea." Angelo Peruzzi is reported to have breathed a sigh of relief. The 176-page book titled, 'Juve, gol e Superpippo,' was in the shops just before Christmas.

If you're third choice goalkeeper at Juventus don't expect much recognition. Against Lazio, Morgan De Sanctis was the first No 3 to start a game for the club in 30 years.

Among the Get Well cards sent to Alex Del Piero was one from Gianni Agnelli. The Juventus owner also confided to the Press there was a sting in the tale of his message. "Get better soon or be replaced," was the gist of it.

Alex Del Piero has become a star alongside Sharon Stone in the latest Sting video about medieval times called The Myth. The Italy No 10 is dressed as a medieval knight and although never setting foot on the set with Stone nor Sting, through the magic of computer technology, he will appear side by side with the celebrated Geordie singer and the Hollywood superstar.

Juve's pin-up pair Alex Del Piero and Pippo Inzaghi recently went to a Miss Italy pageant. "We had a free night and we thought it might be a good idea to spend a night watching beautiful girls." And watch them they did. Not only that, they got up on stage with the bevy of beauties and were introduced to them all. "It's the sort of thing I don't mind doing," said Del Piero. We bet.

With his 53rd appearance on the bench against Bilbao, Juventus Coach Marcello Lippi consolidated his record for consecutive European games. It's Lippi's fifth season in Europe, the fourth in the Champion's League. After Lippi comes ex-Milan Coach Fabio Capello who racked up 42 appearances in Europe form 1992 to 1996. Next comes ex-Parma Coach Nevio Scala with 33.