28 August 2015
Juan Cuadrado has revealed his excitement at joining the Bianconeri, whom he termed his number one choice after arriving on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
The Colombian international, who has been training with his new team-mates since Tuesday, underlined his peak fitness and readiness to make his debut against Roma this Sunday.
He began: “Juventus is the best place for me. I have trained hard this summer and I feel ready both physically and mentally for this new challenge.
“The match away at Roma will be a tough encounter, but we approach the fixture confident of getting a positive result. I hope that I can play a part this weekend.”
Playing for the Italian champions now gives the 27-year-old the opportunity of sinking his teeth into Champions League football after gaining an initial taste as a second-half substitute in Chelsea’s last 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain last season.
The prospect of playing in Europe’s premier club competition is something Cuadrado admitted he is relishing just a day after the draw revealed his new club would pit their wits against Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach this term.
“I’m delighted to be able to play for this great club in the Champions League. While the group is not easy, we’ll give our all to reach the knockout stages.”
Renowned for his versatility on the park, having begun his career as a right-back before switching to more attacking roles on the wing, the Colombian emphasised his flexibility to play wherever his new manager Massimiliano Allegri sees fit.
And after seeing his stock rise since spells in Udine, Lecce and Florence, he expressed his motivation to push on from his previous experiences in Serie A.
“I’m used to playing in a 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 from my time with Fiorentina, but I’m more than happy and able to operate in whichever formation the coach decides.
“My time with Fiorentina, Lecce and Udinese has helped me develop as a player and now I will look to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded me here at Juventus.”
