28 January 2008

Stendardo: «Here to give my best»

From today Claudio Ranieri can count on another defender. It's Guglielmo Stendardo, who arrived in Turin from Lazio, on loan until the end of the season, as confirmed by Director of Sport Alessio Secco when the player was presented to the press: «He's here on loan and we have hire-purchase rights. We needed a defender to replace Boumsong and our aims coincided. We wanted to get Mellberg, today we announced his arrival in June, but when we realized it was going to be complicated to get him already now, we reached this other agreement and everybody's happy».

The lad himself is especially happy. Born in 1981, he joins Juventus after growing up in Napoli's youth sector and stints at Salernitana, Sampdoria, Catania, Perugia and Lazio. Now finally he's at a big club: «I'm happy about this opportunity and I think I made my parents happy too. Playing for a club such as this, one of the most glorious in the world, is a source of pride. That's why I thank everybody for this opportunity and I'll do my best in the next five months to help the team».

He's ready to start working immediately, possibly even making his debut in Wednesday night's eagerly awaited Italian Cup game against Inter Milan. «I know it's an important match, against one of the best teams in Europe, I'm at the Manager's disposal. We spoke on the phone and I thank him for the chance he's given me. I already know some of my new team mates here: Palladino, Belardi, Marchionni and Molinaro. They're all great lads, not just great players».

Stendardo joins a group he considered opponents until just a few days ago and whom he rooted for yesterday during the Livorno game. «It's never easy to win there and the team showed all their worth. I thought Juventus were tight and tactically good».

One last thing: his shirt number. «I chose number 25. I've almost always played with the number 2, at Salernitana I had number 5 and it was lucky for me, so I joined the two things».