Trezeguet Ready To See Out Contract At Juve
Friday 25th May 2001
Juventus striker David Trezeguet on Friday distanced himself from speculation that he is set to quit the Turin club for Liverpool or Arsenal. "I want to keep my place at Juventus and respect my contract which ends in 2005," he said.
Trezeguet has scored three times in his past two games, wins over Fiorentina and Bologna, and his inspirational form has been a major factor in keeping Juve in with an outside chance of pipping Roma to the title.
Juve face Perugia on Sunday and with Trezeguet expected to start, the France striker's interest in leaving the club appears to have been quelled for the moment at least.
"I don't think it's right to be speaking about the transfer market at this point of the season," he said. "But I repeat again that I would like to keep my place at Juve and respect my contract which ends in 2005."
Trezeguet is Juve's second highest scorer this season with 11 goals so far despite being used sparingly by coach Carlo Ancelotti since returning from injury in March.
His frustration at regularly losing out to Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi in the battle for a place up front had led him to question his future at the club.
But despite interest from both Gerard Houllier at Liverpool and Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, he now appears ready to accept the challenge of fighting for a place in the side.
"A great team needs to have a number of good forwards and then the coach can decide who should play," Trezeguet said. "I repeat, I want to stay here and I feel calm about the situation."
Trezeguet's immediate focus is on Sunday's clash with Perugia.
"We are training to not make any mistake against Perugia, because we think that it's still possible for us to win the league," he said. "We must win the match, and hope for some good news from Rome and Milan."
"Perugia is a well organized team capable of causing big teams a lot of problems look how they managed to draw with Roma in Rome."
Last week Trezeguet admitted he might be prepared to leave the club he joined in the summer from Monaco for �14 million.
"When things are gong well, as they did in Florence, it's very agreeable to play here," he said.
"Now we need to see what Juventus want to do - who the club wants to buy, who the club wants to see leave.
"I'm ready to listen, but I need to find a good position in an important year that ends with the World Cup. Liverpool are ambitious, have very good players and a coach ready to put his faith in me.
"I know very well that I'm under contract with Juventus until 2005, but in football today everything goes very quickly. One minute you're here, the next you're gone. You always have to be ready."
