Nicola Legrottaglie (2 Viewers)

rvi

l'amour toujours
Apr 5, 2007
2,033
Legrottaglie Backs Stankovic Move
Juventus defender, Nicola Legrottaglie, admits that he would be happy to see Dejan Stankovic join the Bianconeri despite the fans protesting against his potential arrival.The Bianconeri are currently looking for a midfielder and the Serbian is one of their targets.

However, Juve fans have made it clear that they don’t want an Interista in their side. Stankovic played against the Old Lady during the Trofeo Tim and he was booed and jeered by the Juventini.

Legrottaglie has reminded Juve fans of Fabio Cannavaro’s arrival from Inter in 2004, where they were quick to change their opinions on the former Nerazzurri stopper. The Stopper has also given the thumbs up for Stankovic's possible arrival.

“It’s right that the fans whistle as they pay for the ticket and they are the twelfth man,” Legrotaglie told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

“But they should remember when Fabio Cannavaro arrived from Inter.

“He was also treated in the same way as Stankovic, but then those who booed him quickly made him their hero.

“Stankovic is an excellent player and if he arrives then everyone here will be happy.”

The uproar was caused ever since Stankovic spoke about Juve’s involvement in the Calciopoli scandal.

The Nerazzurri player suggested that the Old Lady stole titles rather than win them fairly, causing Juve fans to turn against him.

Salvatore Landolina

>>from : Goal.com
 

The Arif

Senior Member
Jan 31, 2004
12,564
Blog: Saint Nicola

If Juventus are going to make a serious title assault then Antonio Labbate feels that born-again Christian Nicola Legrottaglie could be key.

God truly does work in mysterious ways. Well, He does if you take into account the parable of Nicola Legrottaglie. Having arrived at Juventus for £6m in 2003 after a transfer tug-of-war with Roma, the defender had to wait until last term to finally make the kind of contribution that many expected from him when he left Chievo five years ago.

It’s been some journey for the Bari-native since then. Touching down in Turin with bottle-enhanced hair, white boots, a headband and a playboy lifestyle, he certainly looked the part. His performances, though, suggested otherwise and an early error in an American friendly against Manchester United underlined that there may have been more style over substance to him.

Almost overnight the 1976-born stopper went from an Italian international in the making to an outcast. A regular sinner at the back for the Bianconeri with a series of performances that nobody would have worshipped, Legrottaglie was sent out on loan to firstly Bologna and then Siena.

It was his experience with the latter which changed his life. Something of a lost soul in the high profile world of Italian football, Nicola was shown the light by teammate Tomas Guzman. “He taught me how to open up my heart and ask Jesus to enter,” recalled Legrottaglie. “I was struggling with self pity and he told me to look to Jesus because only he can change your life.”

That’s certainly happened on and off the pitch. Voted as one of football’s sexiest players by a magazine, Legrottaglie revealed in January of this year that the recognition of his looks was pointless. “I’ve not had sex for two years and it hasn’t been a burden,” he noted. “I used to panic if I wasn’t with a woman every four or five days, but it no longer bothers me. It’s not because I don’t like women, I’m just waiting for the right one.”

Recalled to Turin in the aftermath of the club’s Calciopoli punishment, his Serie B action was limited by shoulder surgery. But he certainly made his presence felt last term. Thrown into the side alongside Giorgio Chiellini, after Jorge Andrade’s knee went crack [as it did again recently] and Domenico Criscito struggled under the pressure, Legrottaglie was a Godsend for boss Claudio Ranieri as an accomplished centre-back.

Juventus will arguably need him to mirror those kind of displays again this term. Although the club have brought in two new defenders, the Old Lady’s backline is their weakest department. Olof Mellberg was a good signing given that he cost absolutely nothing, but he’s hardly assured a starting shirt. Then there is Dario Knezevic who needs to prove that he deserves to wear a jersey as glamorous as the Bianconeri one. After all, Juve had to beat Torino to his signature, not Milan!

With that in mind, one shouldn’t underestimate the importance of Legrottaglie to this present Juventus side. He may not be the greatest defender on the planet, but he’s deserved his second chance in life and on the field of play. I think most of us would say amen to that.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/blogs/al49.html
 

Zulfi

New Member
Jul 26, 2008
22
Whats funny is Goal.com has a different article crucifing Legrotalli,and after his performance against hamburg it wasnt such a great time for Labbate to release the "saint Nicoli" article. I think Knezivic played better then legrotalli yesterday.

Overall after the Emirates cup tournament, it seems Melberg and Chielini are in pole position to be the starting pair in the central of defense.
 

Cronios

Juventolog
Jun 7, 2004
27,506
Legro may have been bad against Hamburg, but that was just a game.
LEgro has always been a liability nut in time he has grown more experienced and confident, which is very important part for a CB
He can know read the game better than any other time,
he can use his physique more efficient getting a better positioning using his exp and his has the confidence to "go for it".
He cant be the old Legro, as we knew him...
Legro will be still a useful tool to our squad but i am not sure if he is good enough stand his ground against the highest competition in CL
Thats why we needed a world class defender but we got Mellberg instead.
ATM, i think Mellberg has a slight advantage over Legro to start as Chiellini's partner...
 

cimenk

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2008
3,099
Legro may have been bad against Hamburg, but that was just a game.
LEgro has always been a liability nut in time he has grown more experienced and confident, which is very important part for a CB
Thats why we needed a world class defender but we got Mellberg instead.
ATM, i think Mellberg has a slight advantage over Legro to start as Chiellini's partner...
But do you remember he also makes several mistakes against Brondby
One cost the Brondby penalty, one needs the bar to saves his mistakes, and one need Buffon saves
 

Lucky Luke

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2007
6,218
Whats funny is Goal.com has a different article crucifing Legrotalli,and after his performance against hamburg it wasnt such a great time for Labbate to release the "saint Nicoli" article. I think Knezivic played better then legrotalli yesterday.

Overall after the Emirates cup tournament, it seems Melberg and Chielini are in pole position to be the starting pair in the central of defense.
ChielLini
MelLberg
KnezEvic
LegroTtagliE
 

M.D.P

New Member
Aug 2, 2008
44
Following his Champions League goal, Juventus defenLegro: Bring on Drogba!der Nicola Legrottaglie feels “ready to take on Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba.”

His header put the final nail in Artmedia Bratislava’s coffin during Wednesday’s 4-0 victory that practically sends Juve into the competition proper.

“When Giorgio (Chiellini) scored the third goal, I told him I’d catch up him. I did it at the 90th minute, I kept my word!”

It was a great moment for the comeback kid, whose career has been written off more than once.

“I was struggling with a nasty hip problem and the fans turned on me. Now everything is truly different around me, as I feel the faith of my teammates, Coach and even the supporters.

“I must thank God, as he continues to guide me and I try to do my part to deserve all of this. I am serene, that is my strength.”

The born-again Christian is already gearing up for the battles that lie ahead in Europe’s premier competition.

“I am ready to take on Eto’o, Drogba and the continent’s other top stars. In fact, just the thought of facing them is a very intriguing challenge. We’ll see who wins out.

“I think the concentrated and determined Juve we saw against Artmedia could cause a lot of problems for any opponent, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea. We have been waiting two years for this moment and the best is yet to come."

Channel4.

He's too exciting I think. :disagree:
 

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