The Bianconeri have given up on Rafinha to focus on the Italian international...

25 Aug 2009 10:00:00

Juventus have abandoned their chase of Schalke's Rafinha and have focused their efforts on landing Fabio Grosso from Olympique Lyonnais.

According to Il Corriere Dello Sport, the Bianconeri are trying to reconcile requirements with budgetary constraints, leading them to give up on €12 million-rated Rafinha.

Coach Ciro Ferrara is working on adding strength to his defence, and Grosso has, once again, popped up on his shortlist. The Italian has been linked with Juve on numerous occasions.

The report suggests La Vecchia Signora cannot stretch to meet Schalke's asking price, and thus Rafinha no longer seems like an option.

Grosso, on the other hand, costs less. Lyon want around €2m, but the Italian side want to bargain and get that price down. However, the French are in no mood to comply.

It is said Juve will try to meet with Lyon's directors at next week's Champions League draw in Monaco in order to discuss Grosso further.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon admits he would like Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon at the Santiago Bernabeu as he looks ahead to the crucial Champions League clash on Tuesday between the two giants...

Los Merengues will be in Turin as they attempt to take firm control of group H and, as always, there are fireworks expected.

Calderon will also be at the Olimpico and he has revealed that Buffon is a player he would like at the Bernabeu, leading to speculation that he will try and make enquries while he is in Italy.

The Italian international will not play as he is injured but this hasn't stopped the chief from showing an interest.

"Buffon is the player of my dreams, he is a legend and I want him at Real," Calderon told Tuttosport.

"He is a Real Madrid player, I also like [Mauro] Camoranesi and, of course, [Alessandro] Del Piero.

"However, we have a world-class 'Keeper in [Iker] Casillas and to be honest we don't really need a replacement in goal.

"I will be in Turin on Tuesday to watch the game. It will be a great day for football. It's a European classic and we are delighted to be playing Juve.

"We want to fight for La Liga and for the Champions League as well as everything else."

Los Merengues have always been keen on Buffon and they have spent good money in Turin in the past such as the Zinedine Zidane signing in 2001.

Reports suggest Juventus will be open to a mega money move if it arrives.

Horrified Juventus fans, this is no prank, Inter Milan really have officially signed Del Piero - however not the Bianconero legend and club symbol Alessandro - but Treviso youngster Jago Del Piero.

Having completed the signing of Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma in the early hours of the morning, Inter have now moved to snap up their second player on transfer deadline day.

Inter have purchased Treviso youngster Jago Del Piero, a player they were heavily linked with earlier in the summer. The 14-year-old Del Piero is a highly rated striker with both Brazilian and Italian nationality.

The Nerazzurri are hoping that he will improve and work his way into the Inter first team in the coming years, although all the talk is unsurprisingly on the link between the player and the Juventus club symbol Alessandro who shares the same surname.

Juventus fans can breathe again!

The 18-year-old Iago is one of the most promising youngsters currently playing for Barcelona B, and he has attracted the interest of a host of top European clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Ajax.

However, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, Juventus have beaten all their competitors to the punch, and have swooped to sign the left winger.

The Bianconeri have snapped up the teenager on a free transfer, but they will have to pay Barcelona compensation should they sell Iago on, or if he were to become a regular in their first team.

The reason for Iago’s apparent decision to leave was not only his desire to join Juve, but also because of his lack of opportunities in the Barcelona first team.

Juventus are expected to officially announce the signing of the former Spain Under-17 international in the coming hours.