Juve Resurrect Muzzi Hopes
Monday 7th January 2002
Udinese forward Roberto Muzzi has revealed that Juventus players told him his �8 million move to Turin was back on when the sides met on Sunday.
"They told me to be happy at joining them," he said. "They explained they were just waiting for the announcement."
Juve owner Gianni Agnelli claimed as recently as Friday that the club would not add to their squad before the summer, but it seems the move could now go through before the end of the week.
Agnelli also hinted that Muzzi's arrival may not be far off when he joked about the penalty the striker missed during the weekend game. "He took the perfect spot-kick," Agnelli laughed. "He did what he had to do."
The Turin giants have been short of a striker since Marcelo Salas was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury in October, but have delayed signing Muzzi as they consider a move for River Plate midfielder Andres D'Alessandro
Juve are still in the hunt for the Scudetto, despite a disappointing first half to the season, and on course to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions' League, but Lippi needs to ease the burden on front pairing Alessandro del Piero and David Trezeguet.
Muzzi, a traditional frontman, would serve as a short-term replacement to see them through the season, while D'Allesandro, 20, is viewed as a talent for the future, but not ready for the cut and thrust of Serie A.
Muzzi has scored ten times this season and recently revealed that it would be a dream to sign for Juve. His goalscoring touch deserted him on Sunday, though, as Gianluigi Buffon guessed right to deny the 30-year-old from the spot.
"I tried to angle the shot but Buffon was great," he said. "I should change the side I shoot to, but I'm 30, I have played for 12 years in Serie A and I don't have to prove anything to anybody.
"I am disappointed for my team-mates, because after our home defeat against Lecce in December, we were looking for a strong performance."
