Zidane Aiming for European Champions Cup
ROME (August 8, 2000 11:22 a.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Juventus midfielder Zinedine Zidane has set his sights on the European Champions Cup this season, the only top trophy that he has failed to win.
"I want so much to win this competition. It's the only one that I have not won and if I succeed, I can leave with a clear mind," he told Italian and French journalists at the Italian club's training camp.
"I am not saying that I will definitely leave, but that it would be a
possibility in as much as I would have completed the cycle in Italy and I could leave Juve," he added.
The 28-year-old Zidane, who masterminded France's triumph in the Euro 2000 finals in June/July has once again been the subject of summer transfer rumors with Real Madrid reported to be ready to offer a world record fee for his services.
But the player refused to make any comment on the transfer talk at a joint news conference with new Juventus signing, the French striker David Trezeguet.
Zidane also said that the delay until October 1 for the start to the
Italian season to take account of the Sydney Olympic Games, would help his form.
"After France's World Cup win in the summer of 1998, he said "I admit I was not at the top of my game."
"I made a bad mistake because I did not properly prepare the season ahead.
"This time, I am fortunate that the Italian league campaign does not
restart until Oct. 1 and I think I will be ready for the first Champions
League match on Sept. 12 or 13," he said.
Zidane is also due to play for France in a charity match against a world select at Marseille on August 16.
