Juventus still planning Dzeko raid

Caption competition
Caption competition
View past winners of our Sports caption competition
News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Sport blogs

Roy Hodgson for England: A club of one

To argue against Harry Redknapp for England is akin to arguing in favour of bankers bonuses. While s...

Andrei Arshavin worthy of more than a peripheral role at Arsenal

While it can’t be denied that Arshavin has disappointed at Arsenal, he has actually done a lot bette...

iBet: Southend are League Two’s highest scorers away from home

Third in table, Southend are the division’s highest scorers away from home by some distance, with th...

Juventus' director general Giuseppe Marotta says that his club will try again to sign Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko next summer, but he expects the Bosnia international to join Bayern Munich.

The 24-year-old was a target for a host of top clubs before the transfer window slammed shut, with Manchester City, AC Milan and Chelsea all reportedly rivalling Juve for Dzeko's signature.



However, his current club fended off all advances for a second successive summer.



Marotta told the Italian media: "Dzeko is one of the strongest players in Europe, he makes a difference.



"We wanted him and we did everything we could within our possibilities to acquire him in the summer transfer market. However, Wolfsburg put up a wall.



"Unfortunately, (general manager) Dieter Hoeness was firm on his decision not to sell.



"We will try again but something tells me that in the future he will end up playing at Bayern Munich."



Former Internazionale goalkeeper Walter Zenga believes the club will do very well to replicate last season's performances now that Jose Mourinho has departed the San Siro.



The Portuguese coach left in the summer to join Real Madrid after guiding the Nerazzurri to the Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia titles last term and Zenga feels new boss Rafael Benitez will struggle to come close to Mourinho.



"Inter's problem was not on the transfer market, but on the bench," he told Il Corriere della Sera.



"Inter lost the number one coach, the best in the world. Jose Mourinho is irreplaceable."



Elsewhere, the agent of Fiorentina captain Riccardo Montolivo has said he could be ready to sign at new contract with the Serie A side.



Director Pantaleo Corvino was hopeful of extending the midfieder's terms and agent Carlo Pallavicino believes both parties should settle the matter sooner rather than later.



"I have been following the developments and I hope that it is as easy as Corvino said it would be," the agent told Lady Radio.



"I think that the situation is already progressing, we just have to resolve some small issues which have held up the signature so far.



"I am optimistic though. The club wants to keep Montolivo and his will is the same as theirs."

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus

Day In a Page

Picture preview: Lucian Freud drawings

Lucian Freud drawings

Picture preview
Silent revolution at the Baftas as the French take top awards

Silent revolution at the Baftas

The Artist wins in seven categories, with Meryl Streep the other big success story
Whitney Houston: The diva who had – and lost – it all

The diva who had – and lost – it all

Nick Hasted charts the highs and lows of Whitney Houston's life
How Picasso won over (some of) the British

How Picasso won over (some of) the British

Winston Churchill and Evelyn Waugh hated his work, but Picasso provided inspiration for a whole generation of UK artists
Topshop: A Decade Of Design

Topshop: A Decade Of Design

When London Fashion Week starts on Friday, Topshop will celebrate 10 years backing its brightest young stars
John Prescott: 'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

At 73, John Prescott isn't mellowing. In fact he's taking a shot at becoming a police commissioner
Jim Gamble: We are losing the race to protect our young

Jim Gamble: We are losing the race to protect our young

Technology and the children who use it won't wait for slow-moving child-protection services and police to catch up
Sarah Sands: A friend is not the one you turn to, but the person who turns to you

Sarah Sands on friendship

A friend is not the one you turn to, but the person who turns to you
Andy Burnham: 'It's a genie out of the bottle moment'

Andy Burnham interview

'It's a genie out of the bottle moment'
Leveson: What we've learnt so far

Leveson: What we've learnt so far

Ingenious hacks, shifty editors and attacks of Sudden Memory Loss Syndrome – Matthew Bell assesses the state of play at the Royal Courts of Justice
Modern lovers: The 'sexual body warriors' and pioneers transforming 21st-century relationships

Modern lovers: The 'sexual body warriors'

Sarah Morrison meets the people redefining love in the 21st century.
'I was angry, so angry': How heartbreak, betrayal and Su Pollard helped Estelle find pop success

Estelle: 'I was angry, so angry'

The singer talks about heartache, betrayal and bouncing back.
Choc tactics: Bill Granger's Valentine's recipes for chocoholics

Bill Granger's Valentine's recipes for chocoholics

Should it be white, milk or plain? Can you make a melt-in-the-mouth pudding without using any?
Male, pale & stale: Could more women on the board help Mothercare – and other ailing firms?

Male, pale & stale

Could more women on the board help Mothercare – and other ailing firms?
Upstairs, downstairs, 2012-style

Upstairs, downstairs, 2012-style

There are now more domestic workers in Britain than in Edwardian times