Alonso 'too slow' for Juve

Ranieri claims Spaniard lacks pace

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 9th October 2008  

Alonso 'too slow' for Juve

Alonso: Too slow for Juve

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Claudio Ranieri claims he did not sign Xabi Alonso this summer because the Spaniard is too slow.

Juventus were strongly linked with a swoop for the Liverpool midfielder during the close-season as the Reds became embroiled in a long-running transfer saga over Aston Villa's Gareth Barry.

The Serie A giants held discussions with Liverpool in regards to the Euro 2008 winner, but ultimately decided to turn their attentions elsewhere.

Perplexed

"He was a player we wanted," Ranieri admitted.

"But he is a player, who even though he is an extraordinary man and a great professional, left me perplexed by the slowness of his movement in midfield.

"In the midfield of Rafa Benitez's Liverpool, where all of them are little soldiers, he finds himself in a fantastic position.

"But in our midfield, he would have found it hard to support the midfield line seeing as Mauro Camoranesi and Pavel Nedved are not players that come back to give support like Liverpool's wingers."