Del Piero Recovery Smooths Exit For Kovacevic
Wednesday 27th December 2000
Alessandro Del Piero is well on the road to recovery from the thigh injury
he sustained earlier this month and is hoping to surprise doctors by joining
up with his Juventus team-mates as early as New Year's Day.
Del Piero, who was sidelined for a year with a knee injury two seasons ago,
has been making good progress with his trusted trainer Aldo Esposito, and
will undergo a medical on December 30.
If he comes through the examination unscathed, he will be back in training
on January 1 and available for first-team action three weeks later.
Del Piero's return will signal the go ahead for the transfer of Darko
Kovacevic to Borussia Dortmund for �13 million - not a bad return on a
player they paid �9.6 million for two years ago.
The Turin giants are also set to sell winger Jonathan Bachini to Brescia in
return for an option to take 21-year-old Italy newcomer Aimo Diana next
season.
Meanwhile striker Filippo Inzaghi, who has lost his place in recent weeks to
David Trezeguet, has revealed that he has rejected a number of offers from
high-profile clubs in Spain.
Talking from his snowbound holiday retreat in Madonna di Campiglio on
Wednesday, the Italy striker revealed that he had turned down offers from
Barcelona and Real Madrid.
"I don't want to go and play abroad," he said. "And I will absolutely not
leave Juventus."
