United and Juventus target "Llorente" seeking Bilbao exit

Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia has confirmed that Fernando Llorente does not want to renew his contract with the La Liga side.

 The 27-year-old striker's current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2012/13 campaign, and the Basque club were keen to extend the Spain international's stay.

 However, Llorente has seemingly set his sights on a transfer amid interest from some major European clubs, and will not extend his contract with last year's Europa League and Copa del Rey finalists.

 "Llorente has told us that he does not want to renew his contract with the club," Urrutia told reporters.

 "In case Llorente leaves the club, we will not sign another attacker. I can tell all clubs that want to sign one of our players that we are not a selling club.

 They will have to pay a player's buy-out clause." Serie A champions Juventus as well as Manchester United have been heavily linked with Llorente.

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Old Lady win Super Cup

Juventus clinched the Italian Super Cup with a 4-2 extra-time victory in an emotionally-charged encounter against Napoli in China.

 Last season's Coppa Italia winners Napoli took the lead through Edinson Cavani in the 27th minute before Kwadwo Asamoah levelled and Goran Pandev restored Napoli's advantage before the interval.

 Arturo Vidal levelled from the penalty spot before Napoli lost Pandev, Juan Zuniga and coach Walter Mazzarri to red cards towards the end of the 90 minutes.

 An own goal from Christian Maggio and a further strike from Mirko Vucinic clinched victory for the Serie A champions in extra-time.

 Juve, with Massimo Carrera on the bench in place of Antonio Conte, who has been suspended for 10 months pending an appeal, began the game brightly in the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.

 Sebastian Giovinco soon settled into his new role in the Juve attack and created a few openings before Napoli scored against the run of play.

 Cavani put Mazzarri's side in front in the 27th minute when he beat the offside trap and then kept his cool to beat Gianluigi Buffon.

 Juve equalised 10 minutes later with new arrival from Udinese Asamoah scoring his first goal for the club with a finely-executed volley from the edge of the area.

 Parity lasted only four minutes, though, before Pandev restored Napoli's lead.

 Leonardo Bonucci initially lost possession, but the Macedonian's lobbed finish took more credit than the Juventus defender's error could take blame as an efficient Napoli regained the advantage before half time. That goal was almost cancelled out immediately in the second half when Mirko Vucinic's shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Morgan de Sanctis.

 Vucinic got round De Sanctis on the hour mark, but Paolo Cannavaro covered to defend the Napoli goal as the defending Serie A champions started to raise their game.

 They got their reward in the 73rd minute when substitute Federico Fernandez fouled Vucinic inside the area and Vidal converted the penalty.

 The game opened up and the tension increased, so much so that Pandev vented his anger at a linesman and was swiftly sent off. Zuniga followed him into the dressing room in stoppage time when he picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Giovinco.

 It was all too much for Mazzarri, who was sent off for his protests as the teams prepared for extra time.

 Napoli could no longer control their emotions and Juve capitalised to take the lead seven minutes into extra time when Maggio headed Andrea Pirlo's free-kick into his own goal before Juve sealed victory through Vucinic in the 101st minute of the game.

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Juventus coach Conte to resign?

There were conflicting reports in the Italian press on Wednesday concerning the future of Juventus coach Antonio Conte, with a number of outlets speculating he could resign if he is banned for 10 months in his upcoming betting trial.

 Conte has refused to negotiate a second plea-bargain agreement after the first - which would have seen him accept a three-month suspension - was rejected by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) disciplinary commission.

 He is now going to be subject to a full sporting trial and faces a much longer ban should he fail to prove his innocence.

 Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has recommended a 15-month suspension on the grounds that Conte failed to alert authorities to two potentially fixed matches during his time at Siena in the 2010-11 season.

 The ban would only affect his input on match days and would prevent him taking his place on the bench or in the dressing room and rumours abound that he will be handed a 10-month suspension, effectively ruling him out for the forthcoming campaign.

 Yet beyond that there is huge uncertainty in the Italian media with Sky Italia continuing to promote the club's public stance that they will stand by their coach whatever the result of the trial, putting Massimo Carrera - a member of Conte's staff - in charge during games.

 The former Juve defender took control of the team during their last pre-season friendly against Malaga and is expected to do the same this weekend for the Italian Super Cup match against Napoli.

 The club have also issued a denial of reports that Conte was set to fire the Juventus legal team who have been representing him, in order to hire his own lawyers in an attempt to clear his name.

 However, according to La Repubblica, Conte is ready to offer his resignation to the club should he be banned, following the path taken warlier this week by his assistant Cristian Stellini, who was banned for 30 months for his role in affecting results while playing for Bari in 2009-10.

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Fenerbahce agree Krasic deal

Fenerbahce have announced the signing of Serbia international Milos Krasic from Juventus.

 Krasic, 27, joined Juve from CSKA Moscow in 2010 but had fell down the pecking order and was made available for transfer last season.

 The winger, who had been linked with a loan move to Fenerbahce in January, has now agreed a four-year deal after the Turkish side agreed to pay a reported €7 million for his services.

 "I'm very happy," Krasic told the media at Istanbul airport. "I have come to a very big club."

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Italian agent claims Van Persie to Juve move is 'done' deal

Robin van Persie looks fed up as his exit from Arsenal continues to drag on.

 The Dutchman was seen working on his fitness at The Gunners' London Colney training ground.

 Premier League champions Manchester City, rivals Manchester United and Italian title holders Juventus are all competing for Van Persie's signature. But in a bizarre claim by a FIFA agent, he claims the deal to Italy is already done.

 Fabio Parisi, who is based in Milan and represents the Nigerian defender Tayo Taiwo, was quoted on Italian TV saying: 'I think Juventus have had a signed contract with Van Persie for some time locked away in a notary’s desk. 'It is just my opinion, but I think there’s an eight out of 10 chance the Dutchman will join the Bianconeri.

 'Juventus want to win and he is considered the ideal addition to achieve that. I don’t think Edin Dzeko is the right player for the Bianconeri.'

 While the claims are yet to be backed up, any move to Juventus could hit the skids following the news that Antonio Conte, manager of Italian Serie A winners, has been banned three months and fined €200,000 over the footballing nation's Calcioscommese match-fixing scandal.

 Better news for Van Persie is that he has been named in the Dutch squad for Louis van Gaal's squad for the friendly with Belgium later this month.

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Arsenal's Robin van Persie in Juventus' sights again as Italians prepare to offer club record wages of £190,000

The Italian champions have already had a £10 million offer rejected but are emerging as an increasingly serious threat to the two Manchester clubs in the battle for Van Persie, particularly as the Arsenal captain himself is understood to be attracted by a move to Serie A.

 No formal second offer has gone in but, according to sources in Italy, Juventus have remained in contact with Arsenal and will make a significantly improved offer.

 Juventus are also prepared to make Van Persie the highest paid player in their history, with wages of around £190,000 a week on a potential five-year deal.

 Manchester United and Manchester City have also had respective offers of around £10 million and £12 million rejected, but are yet to return with second bids.

 Arsenal will not listen to offers below £20 million and, having got £24 million for Samir Nasri in similar circumstances last year, regard the first round of offers for Van Persie as completely unrealistic.

 If it is decided to sell Van Persie and Juventus are now massively out-bid, however, there is an obvious attraction in sending him to Serie A rather than a Premier League rival.

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Man United Believe They Have Won the £20m race to Sign Arsenal Striker Robin Van Persie

Manchester United boss believes RvP will snub interest from neighbours City and Italian champs Juventus and link up with Wayne Rooney Manchester United believe they have won the £20million race to sign Robin van Persie.

 United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the Arsenal captain will team up with Wayne Rooney to form a formidable strike-force in a rebuilt side he hopes can win back the title.

 Van Persie scored 30 Premier League goals last term to help the Gunners to third in the table, while Rooney struck 27 times for United.

 Ferguson is understood to have told footballing friends he believes van Persie will be moving to Old Trafford, despite the interest of money-bags Premier League champions Manchester City and Italian league winners Juventus.

 Sir Alex Ferguson could well do with an attacking addition and there are fewer in-form strikers in Europe that Robin Van Persie.

 Arsene Wenger will apparently have last ditch talks with the 28 year old Dutchman ahead of the North London club’s departure for their Asian tour, those talks do not appear to have much hope to succeeding given that the player has publicly stated his intention to not sign a new contract.

 One wonders if Wenger would prefer to sell to United than letting another of his top talents move to the Etihad Stadium, not least because the Frenchman enjoys a fairly amenable relationship with Ferguson.

 The Man United boss may well feel a move for Van Persie is too good an opportunity to turn down.

 The Old Trafford boss elected to not renew Michael Owen’s contract and Dimitar Berbatov has pleaded to be allowed to leave.

 The Arsenal captain could perhaps be used as an effective strike partner for Wayne Rooney, an option that may seem all the more plausible given the very average form displayed by Mexican Javier Hernandez in his notoriously awkward second season.

 However perhaps Van Persie would prefer a move abroad but if Arsenal do accept they have to cash in on their goal machine they may well just opt to accept whichever offer is highest and £20m is a decent price for a player with just 12 months to run on his contract.

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Juventus winger Krasic open to Premier League move, reveals agent

Juventus winger Milos Krasic is only interested in a move to one of Europe's big clubs, according to his agent Dejan Joksimovic.

 The Serbia international failed to secure a starting place in Antonio Conte's team last season, but with a host of Russian and Italian clubs leading the race to sign the 27-year-old, his representative has confirmed he will think only of a move to England, Spain or Germany.

 Tottenham had a loan bid accepted for Krasic in January, only for the winger to turn down the deal as his preference, reportedly, was a permanent move.

 "Are CSKA Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg or Anzhi Makhachkala interested?" he told us.

 "The papers can write what they want, but I am Milos' agent and I guarantee that no offers have arrived. "In any case, the situation is clear - he will not return to Russia, or go to the Turkish league, he will only accept offers from top English, Spanish or German clubs.

 "Juventus did not let him leave when there was interest from Inter and some Premier League clubs [in January]. "If no top club tries this time, Milos will not move.

 He is prepared to stay and spend a year not playing. He believes he will get chances at a higher level.

 The discussion does not change and he will not drop down.

" Krasic made only seven Serie A appearances for the Bianconeri last season, and managed to score a solitary goal.

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Hands off!: Arsenal 'not interested' in selling Van Persie

Robin van Persie will hold crunch talks with Arsene Wenger this week, as Arsenal insist they are not "in the remotest bit" interested in selling him.

 Italian champions Juventus claim they have had a rock-bottom £8million approach for van Persie turned down, but the Gunners claim they have not had an offer and will fight to keep their captain.

 Juve are only prepared to go up to £15m for the 28-year-old Dutchman, who only has 12 months left on his current deal.

 Manchester City are also poised to move in for van Persie this week. Van Persie is on holiday after playing at Euro 2012, but is planning on talking to Arsenal manager Wenger by phone this week.

 He has already made it clear he will not sign the new £130,000-a-week, three-year contract the Gunners are offering.

 Meanwhile, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: “As far as I am aware, nobody has made any offer for him and he is away so we are not in any dialogue at all.

 “We are not in the remotest bit interested in selling him.

 Despite Hill-Wood’s stance, Arsenal face a dilemma over whether to sell van Persie this summer or lose him on a free at the end of the coming season.

 They are prepared to hold van Persie to his contract unless a) the transfer fee offered becomes too much to turn down and b) the Dutchman makes it clear he will sulk his way through the final year of his deal.

 Unless Juventus increase their offer, City are the only serious contenders.

 Although Paris Saint-Germain and ambitious Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala are also in the frame. 

 Arsenal sold midfielder Samir Nasri to City last summer when he only had a year left, and now face the same situation with van Persie.

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Juve Van Persie bid rejected

Juventus have had a €10 million offer for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie rejected by the North London club, according to an Italian report.


 Juve had tabled an unsuccessful bid for Van Persie, who scored 27 goals for the Gunners last season and has been the subject of speculation linking him with Juventus, Manchester City and Paris St Germain.


 The report said Juve would have to increase their offer to stand any chance of landing the Netherlands international.


 On Sunday, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini suggested that he was unlikely to sign Van Persie for the Premier League champions.


 City have been strongly linked with a swoop for 28-year-old Van Persie, whose future, having entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates.


 Mancini told Sport Italia: "Van Persie? He is an Arsenal player and I don't want to disrespect Wenger. "We have four strikers and we will start the pre-season in five days.

 It's unlikely there will be major changes in such a short time."

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Juve chasing defender Ogbonna

Juventus are ready to enter the race to sign Torino's highly rated defender Angelo Ogbonna.

 The 24-year-old has impressed for Il Granata, and was a key player in the side's promotion from Serie B last term.

 The centre-half's performances at club level have won him a place in the Italy squad for Euro 2012, but as yet he has not been given a chance to star.

 With AC Milan supposed front-runners for the player's signature this summer, Antonio Conte's men may well be ready to weigh in with an offer to their cross-town rivals also. 

 Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici is believed to be an admirer of Ogbonna, and will try to convince the Scudetto winners' board to make an offer for the defender this summer.

 It is also thought that Milan's capture of Francesco Acerbi will cool their interest in the Torino man adequately to allow Juventus to lead the chase for his signature.

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Juve seal Giovinco deal

Juventus have confirmed that Sebastian Giovinco will return to the club next season.

 Giovinco, 25, began his career with Juve but spent the last two seasons with Parma, with the two clubs each holding 50% of his sporting rights.

 Having netted 15 goals in Serie A last season and establishing himself as an Italy international, Juve have now formally announced that they have regained 100% of the player's rights after agreeing an €11 million fee.

 A club statement read: "Juventus announces that it has resolved in its favour the agreement with Parma relating to the playing rights of footballer Sebastian Giovinco.

 The transfer was resolved for a fee set at €11m to be paid by Juventus over the next three seasons.

 The contract signed with the player is in effect until June 30, 2015.

 Parma, who had prematurely announced the deal on Tuesday, had gained their 50% share of Giovinco's rights for €3.75 million.

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Juventus make €30m offer for Chelsea striker Fernando Torres

The Serie A champions had initially set their sights on Napoli star Edinson Cavani, but they have no intention to meet the Partenopei's €70m valuation of the Uruguay international.

 Therefore, they're exploring other options once more, and they have earmarked the 28-year-old Fernando Torres as their new main transfer target.

 The Spain international has been struggling to live up to the high expectations at Chelsea ever since his €58m move to the Blues in January 2011, and could be allowed to move on if the price is right.

 Juventus director Fabio Paratici first met with Fernando Torres' entourage during the winter transfer window to discuss a potential move, and the Old Lady have now stepped up their interest a notch.

 They are not only willing to splash the cash on the attacker, but are ready to include Italy international Sebastian Giovinco in the deal, too.

 Chelsea already have plenty of creativity in their squad with the likes of Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Juan Mata, but manager Roberto Di Matteo is a keen admirer of Giovinco, and would relish the chance of working with the tricky attacker. 

 Nevertheless, the transfer of Fernando Torres to Juve is by no means a done deal yet as there are still plenty of obstacles to overcome.

 The Bianconeri could struggle to meet the striker's wage demands as he's currently on an annual salary of nearly €10m. Additionally, Chelsea are unlikely to sell the forward until they have secured the services of a new striker themselves.

 The Champions League winners are believed to be keen on Porto striker Hulk, but an agreement is still far away.

 First contact between both clubs has been made, though, and Juventus appear to be sitting in pole position to lure Fernando Torres to Turin if his current club indeed opt to sell the beleaguered striker this summer.

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Udinese's Kwadwo Asamoah undergoes Juventus medical

The Ghana international has long been linked with a move to the Old Lady, and now appears to be one step closer to a summer transfer.

 "Kwadwo Asamoah has arrived in Turin for a medical ahead of a proposed switch to Juventus," an official statement on the Juve website reads.

 "The Ghanaian midfielder, who has featured for Torino and Udinese since moving to Italy in 2008, earlier visited the city's Clinica Fornaca di Sessant, and will now conduct further tests at the Istituto di Medicina dello Sport.

" The 23-year-old Asamoah is expected to sign a long-term deal upon completion of his medical.

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Juventus send Pavel Nedved to discuss Arsenal's Robin van Persie move

The former Czech international was sent by Juve to meet with Van Persie at Holland's Euro 2012 training camp as they look to try and pip Manchester City to the prolific striker's signature.

 It is reported that the Serie A champions are keen for the Dutchman to be their major signing this summer, and as such have readied an attractive package to tempt him to Italy. This includes a £25 million transfer fee as well as a £180,000-a-week contract.

 Manchester City would theoretically be able to match this with their financial muscle, but would need to offload some players to meet UEFA financial fair play rules.

 This would most likely see Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez leave the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal have offered van Persie a three-year, £130,000-a-week deal as well as a £5 million signing-on fee. He looks likely to decide where his future lies once the Euros come to an end.

 If Van Persie were to leave it would represent a huge blow in what could be a promising summer of recruitment for the Gunners. They have already signed Lukas Podolski and look close to securing the services of Olivier Giroud too.

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