No More Major Buys This Summer, Juventus Say
TURIN, Italy, July 14 (Reuters)(DS) - Juventus are not planning to make any more major signings before the start of next season, general manager Luciano Moggi said on Friday.
The Turin club bought French striker David Trezeguet from Monaco for some $26.5 million last month but have otherwise made few purchases since they finished second in last season's Serie A title race.
In contrast, champions Lazio have been splashing out on remodelling their squad and broke the world transfer record this week when they signed Argentine striker Hernan Crespo from Parma for 110 billion lire ($53.08 million).
"We came second with 71 points last season and our policy has been to reinforce our squad," Moggi said. "We signed a European champion (Trezeguet) a month and a half ago and that's why we're not interested in the Crespos and (Marcelo) Salases."
Italian newspapers had speculated that Juve might try to buy Brazilian forward Rivaldo from Barcelona before the start of next season but Moggi appeared to rule that out. He confirmed, however, that Juve were interested in buying Rivaldo's compatriot, defender Athirson, from Rio club Flamengo.
Moggi said Juventus had completed the signing of young Dutch midfielder Sergio De Windt from Ajax Amsterdam and were close to selling Argentine striker Juan Esnaider to Spanish club Celta Vigo.
