Juve expected to axe Ferrara

Rumours regarding Benitez's Italian move gather pace

Last updated: 29th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Juve expected to axe Ferrara

Ferrara: Man on the edge

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Juventus are expected to announce the sacking of manager Ciro Ferrara on Friday morning as speculation mounts that Rafa Benitez could become his eventual successor.

It is understood that Ferrara has been on the verge of leaving Stadio Delle Alpi for several weeks after a wretched run of form and Wednesday's Coppa Italia defeat to Inter Milan is said to have proved the breaking point.

Sixth-placed Juventus have lost six of their last eight matches in Serie A to create pressure on their manager and it is reported that only problems in finding a replacement have delayed the inevitable.

Rumours have suggested that Liverpool boss Benitez is Juventus' No.1 target and that the 27-time Italian champions want to appoint the Spaniard in the summer after naming an interim.

Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc confirmed on Friday that news regarding Ferrara is imminent after the 2-1 loss at Inter, telling Italian media: "We have failed in a target for the season. There is a big bitterness.

"Everybody knows the situation and in the next few hours we will announce our decisions."

Uncertainty

Juventus want to take advantage of uncertainty surrounding Liverpool's Benitez after a poor season in which the club are fighting to finish fourth in the Premier League and have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup.

It is thought that the status of the former Valencia manager, who would be the subject of considerable compensation if he was to leave Anfield after signing a long-term contract last summer, will be discussed at the end of the campaign.

Benitez's agent has delivered mixed messages regarding his client, while the man himself refused to discuss the subject when speaking after Tuesday's goalless draw at Wolves amid conjecture he is frustrated by Liverpool's financial problems.

Italian newspapers stated that Guus Hiddink was Juventus' ideal candidate as an interim appointment in a similar role to that he performed at Chelsea last season but the Dutchman's salary demands are said to have scuppered the plans.

The ex-Blues boss has also been mentioned as a Benitez replacement on Merseyside, while Alberto Zaccheroni or Claudio Gentile have now been installed among the favourites to fill Ferrara's position on a temporary basis.

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Comments (2)

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Theo Swartz (Liverpool fan) says...

i thnk benitez is a gud manager but is tactics are 2 hard headed so it would be best 4 him and liverpool 2 part ways..

Posted 09:00 29th January 2010

John Barrett (Liverpool fan) says...

Please, please take him - we'll throw in his backroom mob too

Posted 08:54 29th January 2010
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