Barzagli confirms Romero arrival

By Football Italia staff

Andrea Barzagli has confirmed that Genoa’s Cristian Romero will join Juventus. “He’ll join up with a group of players who can teach him a lot.”

Romero has long been linked with Juve, and Barzagli – who will retire at the end of the season – believes the Argentine defender has ‘great potential’.

“I hope that Rugani and Romagnoli can become important pillars,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport when asked who his Italy heirs could be.

“I think they have potential, but it’s crucial, for a defender, to be a point of reference for their teammates.

“Seeing as they’re still young, they’ll grow naturally. They have the talent. Romero also has great potential.

“He’ll join up with a group of players who can teach him a lot. Both Bonucci and Chiellini are great defenders.

“If you’re smart and start taking things from them, you’ll improve a lot. Plus, when you join Juventus, in addition to being a good player, you need to have personality. It’s crucial.”

The 38-year-old was then quizzed on his favourite foreign defenders.

“De Ligt of Ajax. He’s young and tough, but the foreign defender that’s the real model is Sergio Ramos.

“When you stay so long at a high level for a good team and the national team, there’s a reason for that. You’re a champion.”

The former Italy international was part of the famed ‘BBC’ backline, with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, that led the Bianconeri to seven of their last eight Scudetti.

“Conte had the vision for the BBC. It was him who put us in a three, but we seemed made for each other,” he reminisced.

“The BBC got the best out of us all. Our eyes were enough on the pitch, we understood each other on the fly.

“We all showed great professionalism, great attachment to Juve and, above all, a great desire to improve.

“There’s one more B to remember, that of Buffon: a point of reference, intelligence and talent.

“Becoming a Coach is something I’ve thought about. I’ll take the course at Coverciano. I want to see if this world excites me.

“When you’re a player, you’re like a small business and you think only of yourself, everything revolves around you and you make your own decisions.

“As a Coach you need to start thinking 360. It’s not just the problem of who to play but also having relations with your players, staff, doctors, the Press, the club.

“It’s different, but it fascinates me and I hope to be a good fit for a job like that.”

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