Juve Will Win More Than Lazio, Says Thuram
Tuesday 10th July 2001
France international defender Lilian Thuram has become the second player in less than a week to reveal that he opted for Juventus ahead of Lazio because he believes they have more chance of success next season. "I have come to Juventus to win," the former Parma defender said.
"I could have gone to Lazio, but I know that this will be a successful season for Juventus," Thuram went on.
His words come just days after Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved revealed that he had made the decision to quit Lazio for Juve because he believed the Turin side to be the more ambitious.
It wasn't just the opportunity for success that made Thuram join Juve, though. "There were other reasons for choosing Turin," he admitted. "Everybody, including Zinedine Zidane, told me to go to Juve because the organisation there is excellent, and because you always go onto the pitch to win.
"I know this is true, because I have seen when I have played against them that they never give up. Even though Roma started the season like a rocket, it was very tight at the end.
There are others, though, who suspect a more sinister motive behind Thuram's decision. Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti, for instance, suggested that Thuram may have feared the racist element among Lazio's supporters after the Irriducibili fan club issued a statement saying that they would be happy to see him at Lazio because of his ability, while implying that lesser black players would not be welcomed.
"It was stupid," Cragnotti said. "When I saw that, I wondered what Thuram must have thought."
The Frenchman admitted that he left Parma purely because of his desire to win trophies. "Usually, footballers want to go to a big club at the beginning of their careers, and then wind down at a smaller one," he explained.
"I did the opposite. I chose Parma to try to prove to myself that it would have been possible to win with one of the less glamorous clubs. But now I understand that the winning sides are always the big ones."
And Thuram, who joined the club shortly after Nedved and Gianluigi Buffon, believes that there will be more big signings at the Stadio Delle Alpi before the Italian season gets underway again. "Wait before you say we are the best defensive side," he cautioned. "We aren't finished yet."
Thuram tends to play at right-back for France, but prefers to play I the centre. He insists, however, that he will be happy playing in either position for his club next season. "I will play whichever way is best. I haven't spoken to (coach) Marcello Lippi yet, but there's no problem."
Nedved joined Juventus last week. "With the Juventus team that is being assembled, I think we can win everything, even the Champions' League," he said.
"I felt I wasn't important any more because I heard rumours about the buying policy. What made me decide was Juve's ambition. They never stopped looking for me."
