29 July 2016
When you consider that Massimiliano Allegri and 25 Juve players have been involved in pre-season action in Australia and now Hong Kong, while a club-record signing was confirmed back in Turin in the shape of Gonzalo Higuain, it certainly has been an eventful few days for the Bianconeri, who play their third and final friendly game of the Juventus Jeep Tour 2016 tomorrow against South China.
Pipita’s arrival in Piedmont represents the club’s fifth summer signing and one which Allegri, accompanied at today’s press conference by Paulo Dybala, agreed to be one of significant quality as his side set their sights on a successful 2016/17 season.
“Higuain is a great signing just like Pjanic, Dani Alves, Pjaca and Benatia,” said the 48-year-old. “The club is doing a great job in this transfer window.
“We’ve a very competitive side, but that doesn’t mean we can take winning for granted and we need to keep working hard in order to reap the rewards.”
Greetings for the Argentine striker were forthcoming too on the part of his compatriot and fellow forward, Dybala: “I got to know Gonzalo in the national team, that’s how our friendship began.
“We exchanged plenty of messages over the past few days and he told me how much he wanted to play here. He’ll be happy now and we’re delighted to welcome a footballer of his calibre to this club.”
Turning attentions to Juve’s pre-season tour, La Joya admitted that he had benefitted from the last fortnight or so between Melbourne and now Hong Kong: “I feel great both physically and mentally. The change in climate will help us in our preparations.”
Allegri’s verdict on events Down Under, which culminated in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, was equally positive, although the boss stressed that the new-look side assembled over the summer would have to work hard on gelling ahead of the upcoming campaign.
“We’ve been training well in Australia and we now need to continue in the same vein when we return to Turin and gear up for the new season. We’ll need time to polish and perfect the way we play because we now have five new players in our ranks.”
The Tuscan tactician revealed that two of those recent arrivals, Miralem Pjanic and Medhi Benatia, would feature for the second time in Bianconeri colours on Saturday, having made impressive debut appearances during the week against Spurs.
“Both of the boys played well in Melbourne and I’ll give them further game time tomorrow, though I’m not sure for how long.”
