Revived: Fernando Llorente of Juventus celebrates scoring against Real Madrid (Picture: Getty Images)

Arsenal have been warned off striker Fernando Llorente, with Juventus declaring the Spaniard is not for sale.

The Gunners were reported to have enquired over Llorente’s availability in January, but have been met with a firm ‘hands off’ warning from Juve’s sporting director Giuseppe Marotta.

‘The player is not for sale, he never has been, he remains with us,’ Marotta told Tuttosport.

‘There is great confidence in him, he is reaching the top of the physical condition. We are very happy with him and his progress.’


Llorente, a free transfer summer signing from Athletic Bilbao, initially struggled to make an impact with the Italian champions, leading to suggestion he could be shipped out on loan come January.



Arsenal are in the market for a new striker, and were previously keen on the 28-year-old, but a turnaround in fortunes has seen Llorente make five starts in the last six games, meaning Juve are unlikely to dispense with his services come the new year.

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