PAVEL NEDVED & RAFFAELE PALLADINO (JUVENTUS)

The old & the new

Pavel Nedved and Raffaele Palladino have been key members of Juventus’ promotion campaign and, as Lorenzo Zacchetti explains, the Bianconeri will be hoping they continue in that manner next term

Pavel Nedved and Raffaele Palladino are both vital members of the Juventus team, but for very different reasons. While the Czech midfielder is both the past and the present of this team, the Neapolitan hitman is the future. During this complicated year, Nedved and Palladino have shown that the Old Lady can count on them – and it’s with them that the ‘new’ Juventus will restart. The former Golden Ball winner represents, along with Alessandro Del Piero and Gigi Buffon, part of the great team which was destroyed by Calciopoli. Nedved is proud of his role at the club and has no problem expressing what he thinks is the feeling of the millions of Bianconeri fans. “Congratulations to Inter for their Scudetto, but they have to stop

claiming that this is the first regular championship of the last few years,” stated the former Lazio man. “Everybody knows that we won the last two Scudetti on the pitch and nothing can take them away from us. Inter have been the best team this year, as we were in the past and without stealing anything.” Being good friends with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Nedved didn’t enjoy seeing his former teammate cheering for the Beneamata after playing a pivotal role in their title-winning campaign. “It had a strange effect on me to see him singing and waving the Nerazzurri’s flag,” he said.

Napoli-born Raffaele Palladino has bagged some crucial strikes in the Bianconeri’s promotion push

28 Calcio Italia June 2007

Raffaele Palladino Club: Juventus Born: Napoli, 17/4/84 Position: Forward Ht/Wt: 1.82m/68kg Serie A debut: LIVORNO 2-1 Lecce, 27/8/05 Season Club Div Apps Gls 2001-02 Benevento C1 8 1 2002-03 Juventus A - - 2003-04 Juventus A - - 2004-05 Salernitana B 39 15 2005-06 Livorno A 22 2 2006-07 Juventus B 24 8
“However, I am convinced that soon we will have the chance to take revenge. We are returning to Serie A and you will see that next year Inter will have to worry about us. The two clashes in Milan and Turin may also be the best games of the season.” With his traditional fighting spirit, Nedved settled quickly in Serie B. However, the Czech ace cannot wait to return to the top-flight football he has been used to throughout his career. Even if Pavel has already given up on his dream to end his playing days with success in the Champions League, he has not stopped being a leader. “It’s not that important anymore, and the main thing is to work for the future of Juventus – my career is less important,” insisted the former Czech Republic international. “If we want to qualify for the European Cup

Pavel Nedved Club: Juventus Born: Cheb (Czech Republic), 30/8/72 Position: Midfielder Ht/Wt: 1.77m/70kg Serie A debut: Bologna 1-0 LAZIO, 7/9/96 Season Club Div Apps Gls 1991-92 Dukla Prague A 19 3 1992-93 Sparta Prague A 18 1993-94 Sparta Prague A 23 3 1994-95 Sparta Prague A 27 6 1995-96 Sparta Prague A 30 14 1996-97 Lazio A 32 7 1997-98 Lazio A 26 11 1998-99 Lazio A 21 1 1999-00 Lazio A 28 5 2000-01 Lazio A 31 9 2001-02 Juventus A 32 4 2002-03 Juventus A 29 9 2003-04 Juventus A 30 6 2004-05 Juventus A 27 7 2005-06 Juventus A 33 5 2006-07 Juventus B 32 10 International debut: Rep of Ireland 1-3 CZECH REPUBLIC, 5/6/94 International apps/gls: 91/18

Pavel Nedved represents the fighting spirit of Juventus and there is still plenty of that left in the ‘Czech Fury’

then we will have to sign a few good players. And if we want to fight for the Scudetto then we will need even more than that.” While Nedved has reconfirmed his importance to the team this year, Palladino has undoubtedly been a pleasant surprise. The talented youngster had already shown his qualities while on loan at Livorno, but with the Bianconeri he has also been very adaptable to different roles. Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Palermo and Empoli are all queuing to capture the 23-year-old striker on loan, but Palladino wants to tie up his future with the Old Lady. “I have always supported Juve, so to wear their shirt is a dream come true,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to play as much as I have. At the beginning of the season I would have liked to have played a dozen games so that I could have contributed to the promotion of my team. Then I started playing regularly and I have to say that Serie B is not that inferior to the top flight.” That is probably why the Bianconeri have had more than their fair share of problems this season. “We have played against really good sides and tough defences,” he explained. “They were just hoping to get a draw against us, and for them it would have been an historic result. I have to thank Didier Deschamps because he has had a lot of faith in me. Obviously, I hope to play often in Serie A, but I know that many things will change. The board are working towards next season and I hope with all my heart that I’ll be able to stay in Turin.” In the latter stages of the campaign there have been several scouts from Liverpool and Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico. The gossip columns suggest that the Premiership giants are ready to make their move, but that means nothing to Palladino. “It’s not easy to play when there is gossip regarding my future,” he said. “But week by week we have shown to be a great group of players. We put the team above ourselves.”

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