Catania vs Juventus preview - Leaders Juve get defensive

Posted Sunday, October 28, 2012 by PA

There is no real cause for concern on the pitch ahead of Juventus' trip to face Catania tomorrow morning, but Bianconeri director general Beppe Marotta has been forced to defend the club's recent transfer policy.

The defending champions finally edged clear at the top of the Serie A table courtesy of last weekend's victory over Napoli, but Marotta found himself facing a barrage of criticism at the annual shareholders' meeting.

The particular bones of contention were Juve's policy of releasing promising youth players on co-ownership deals - a scheme Marotta fiercely defended - and the outlay of 12million euros on Catania midfielder Jorge Martinez, now on loan at Cluj after failing to make any impact in Turin.

Quoted on tuttosport.com, Marotta said: "It's true, we've made some mistakes, (Jorge) Martinez above all, but you will make mistakes when you're trying to completely overhaul the squad.

"We've signed 22 players and yes, some of those buys have not been great.

"But most of all let's not forget the right moves we have made.

"I'm talking about signing (Andrea) Pirlo for free, and (Arturo) Vidal signing for 10million euros before we received an offer of 30million for him.

"We refused it because Juventus is not a selling club by tradition.

"(Sebastian) Giovinco was sold to Parma for four million euros, but we bought him back for 10 and now he's worth 15.

"(Dimitar) Berbatov? The truth is we contacted him and he said `I'm not going to sign for Fiorentina, I have to choose between you and my old coach (Martin) Jol at Fulham'.

"In the end he signed for Fulham."

Catania threatened to nip La Vecchia's incredible 47-match unbeaten run in the bud before it even started last season, the now departed Milos Krasic salvaging a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

The Elefanti's impressive seventh-best status in the league table is due mainly to their impressive home record, with Rolando Maran's men notching three wins and a draw at their Sicily base so far.

Catania playmaker Francesco Lodi told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "Can we beat the Bianconeri?

"Sooner or later someone will and I hope we're the ones celebrating."