�26m Nedved Cannot Grap A Ball, Says Juve Chief
Tuesday 6th November 2001
Juventus general director Luciano Moggi has launched a staggering attack on �26 million signing Pavel Nedved after the Czech's mediocre start to the season.
"He is in very bad physical shape. He even seems to have problems just trapping the ball," he said.
Juve have qualified for the second round of the Champions' League as group winners but are struggling in Serie A with only three wins in nine games.
And after watching his side collect just five points from their last six games, Moggi has finally lost his patience, picking out Czech star Nedved and Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids for special criticism.
He said: "The midfield is our main problem. We have some players who are not at their best. We miraculously managed to get a draw against Verona but we have to do better.
"Nedved is not involved in our game yet and Edgar Davids is paying for the five-month doping ban he suffered. He has not recovered his shape and feeling.
"So our midfield doesn't work. I think that when they return to their best we won't have problems anymore."
Moggi is also fed up of hearing about Zinedine Zidane and what his move to Real Madrid has done to the team. "He wanted to leave. He had a dispute and wanted to leave. But it seems as if Real aren't playing that well, either," he said.
Juventus have been linked with a bid for Lazio midfielder Stefano Fiori but Moggi refused to comment. The Italy star himself said: "My club doesn't want the players to talk to the press so I can't comment on a possible move to Juventus."
