Fernando Llorente

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente 'already feels part of Juve'

Jul 14, 2013

Fernando Llorente has admitted that learning Italian before his arrival at Juventus has helped him integrate into the squad.

The Spain international arrived on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao in June, and the goalscorer has conceded that he has settled well in Turin.

“I have already made friends with everyone in the locker room,” he told reporters.

“For me it was very important to learn Italian before getting here.

“I'm glad I made the effort to learn – I already feel like a part of this group.”

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente: Juventus have freed me

The Spain striker endured a frustrating last year at Athletic Bilbao after a falling-out
with coach Marcelo Bielsa but says he feels "liberated" in Turin.

Jul 14, 2013

Fernando Llorente had admitted his move to Juventus has freed him from his nightmare final season at Athletic Bilbao.

The Spain striker, 28, completed his move to the Serie A champions following a pre-contract agreement with the club in January.

Llorente's nine-year association with Athletic turned sour towards the end after it became public he wanted to leave the club and was consequently dropped by former coach Marcelo Bielsa and lost his place in the national team.

"The move to Juventus was liberating for me," he told Tuttosport.

"The reception of the fans was something spectacular. Ever since I arrived, I've been happy to wear a jersey as prestigious as that of Juventus.

"I'm living the dream - growing as a player and I came to the best team to do so.

"The day of the presentation at the Juventus Stadium was very impressive. The stadium and especially the museum. I've never seen a football museum. It was great."

Llorente has signed a four-year deal with the Bianconeri and says he is already adapting well to life in Italy, having joined the club at the start of July.

"I have already made friends with everyone in the dressing room,” he told reporters. "For me it was very important to learn Italian before getting here.

“I'm glad I made the effort to learn – I already feel like a part of this group."

The forward joins striker Carlos Tevez and defender Angelo Ogbonna as recent recruits of Juventus.

[Socrates 8467]

How Tevez and Llorente Will Make
Juventus a Champions League Contender

Jul 15, 2013

Many of the great strike partnerships in football are made up of contrasting characters, and Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente—Juventus' likely new front pairing—certainly fit that bill.

The Old Lady's new signings each bring different skill sets and playing styles to the table, but coach Antonio Conte will be hoping the amalgamation of their talents will help the club achieve European success for the first time since 1996.

Ex-Athletic Bilbao man and Spanish international Llorente is a tall (1.95 m, 6'5"), elegant target man, who is capable of both deftness and brute force.

His physical attributes make him a classic No. 9, but nimble skills on the ball mean he is far more dangerous than your average, plodding centre-forward.

Tevez, meanwhile, is a diminutive (1.75 m, 5'9"), blustering ball of energy who happens to also be an immensely skillful footballer.

Though capable of leading the line or playing as a "trequartista" in the hole between midfield and attack, Tevez is highly effective as a second striker playing just behind a No. 9.

At first glance, a Llorente leading the line with Tevez roving just behind him would seem an obvious—and highly promising—tactical setup for Conte, though neither player is yet sure of what his role will be at the club.

As reported by Angus Paterson in the Daily Mail, Tevez does not know how Conte will configure Juve's front line, but he told juventus.com that ultimately it would be up to the players to ensure that they jell:

Whether I work well with Llorente on the pitch or not is up to Conte to decide.

I've not talked to the coach yet so I will have to discuss my position and how I will be used on the pitch with him.

The two things that I can bring to the club are experience and the quality of my play. These are certainly the most important things.

LLorente had earlier made similar proclamations in the same publication, saying it would be up to Conte to decide how the pieces would fit, but that he was looking forward to seeking success for the organization and working his way back into the Spanish national team.

What both players promise to bring to the club is plenty of goals, something that has been the missing element at Juventus, despite their recent domestic success.

Neither man was at their best in the season just gone, with Tevez notching 17 goals for Manchester City in all competitions and Llorente managing just five for Bilbao, but both are capable of scoring well over 20 in a single season if given the conditions to thrive.

Ben Gladwell, in a piece for ESPN FC , highlights the growing optimism around the Turin club that the dual signings have brought with them, with Leonardo Bonucci's quotes hinting at their European ambitions.

Gladwell writes:

Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella, Alessandro Matri and Sebastian Giovinco all came in for criticism last season as Juve’s spluttering attack left Antonio Conte’s side increasingly reliant on goals from midfield.

With Llorente and Tevez, the belief is that Juve now have their strongest attack since David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero fired them to their last Champions League final in 2003.

“Tevez and Llorente are two really nice presents from (president Andrea) Agnelli,” defender Leonardo Bonucci told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Juve’s aim is not only going to be confirming ourselves for the third year in a row in Italy, but achieving something big in Europe too.”

Juventus showed in last season's Champions League that they are not far off being an elite team, topping a tough group that included Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk before thumping Celtic in the first knockout phase.

Their 4-0 aggregate loss to eventual champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals demonstrated there was still some way to go for the Italians, however, who lacked the bite up front to trouble the impressive Bavarians.

With a high-grade midfield orchestrated by Andrea Pirlo and a tight defense that has been further strengthened with the edition of Angelo Ogbonna, Juventus would have already been an imposing outfit, but the new odd couple up front has the potential to turn the team into world-beaters.

The strapping, fine-featured Llorente and squat, craggy Tevez are going to look somewhat comical standing next to each other in their new striped kit, but on the pitch, the pair has the potential to become a very serious strike force.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente: 'Juve make me better'

Jul 20, 2012

Fernando Llorente expressed his joy at the new Juventus experience. “I know I can improve here.”

The Spanish striker held a Press conference this afternoon at the team’s pre-season training camp in Chatillon.

“Antonio Conte’s methods are excellent and I’m very happy to work alongside him,” said the forward who joined on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao.

“I’ve never seen anything like the welcome I got from the Juventus fans. They are magnificent. We are working hard at the moment, which is tough, but that’s the way it needs to be. I’m very happy right now, as it was a tough year in Bilbao, but now I am working to be in the best possible shape.”

In games between ranks Llorente has already started to improve his rapport with teammate Carlos Tevez.

“I’m very happy to be playing alongside Tevez, but I get along with all the other strikers too. Our most important objective for this season is a third consecutive Scudetto.

“As for the Champions League, we need to take each game as it comes. We know that anything can happen, but I believe we have a very strong side.

“I chose Juventus because I think this is a great team and I know that I can improve here. Many sides have strengthened over the summer in Italy, but I’d say it is still too early to predict who our main rivals will be.

“I would say Serie A is on the same level as the Liga and the Premier League.”

[Socrates 8467]

Juventus as big as Barca & Madrid, says Llorente

The striker insists that Serie A is as strong as La Liga and the Premier League,
while praising strike partner Carlos Tevez and coach Antonio Conte.

Jul 20, 2013

Fernando Llorente has defended Juventus' reputation by insisting that his new side are as big as the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The striker left La Liga for the Bianconeri this summer on a Bosman transfer from Athletic Bilbao and the Spaniard is adamant that Serie A has a depth of quality to match any other top European league.

"I chose Juventus because I think this is a great team and I know that I can improve here," Llorente, 28, told reporters at a press conference on Saturday.

"Many sides have strengthened over the summer in Italy, but I’d say it is still too early to predict who our main rivals will be.

"The team is no worse in quality than Barcelona and Real Madrid. I would say Serie A is on the same level as La Liga and the Premier League."

Another summer signing from coach Antonio Conte has been Carlos Tevez from Manchester City - whom Llorente is thrilled to be playing alongside in Turin - and the Spain international is confident the Old Lady can challenge in the Champions League following their summer investment.

"I’m very happy to be playing alongside Tevez, but I get along with all the other strikers too," the forward added. "Our most important objective for this season is a third consecutive Scudetto.

"As for the Champions League, we need to take each game as it comes. We know that anything can happen, but I believe we have a very strong side. Antonio Conte’s methods are excellent and I’m very happy to work alongside him.

"I’ve never seen anything like the welcome I got from the Juventus fans. They are magnificent. We are working hard at the moment, which is tough, but that’s the way it needs to be. I’m very happy right now, as it was a tough year in Bilbao, but now I am working to be in the best possible shape."

[Socrates 8467]

What Fernando Llorente Brings to the Bianconeri

Jul 23, 2013

Juventus have finally given Antonio Conte what he's been missing in the two years of his tenure in Turin—a top-of-the-line target man for his striking line.

The arrival of Fernando Llorente gives Juve their first quality target man since the departure of David Trezeguet. After two years of frustration, Juve's fans finally have a forward who is capable of the clinical finishes that Juve have lacked in two otherwise spectacular seasons.

So what does the Spaniard bring to the Bianconeri? Let's take a close look and find out.


Clinical Finishing

Last season was one to forget for Llorente. A feud with coach Marcelo Bielsa after his refusal to sign a contract extension limited him to mostly substitute appearances. He scored only five times in all competitions.

His performance from the year before is what has made Juve go after El Rey Leon for the last year.

Llorente scored 29 times in all competitions in 2011-12, leading his team to the finals of both the Europa League and the Copa del Rey.

Finishing has been Juventus's biggest problem the last two years. Alessandro Matri, Fabio Quagliarella, Mirko Vucinic and Sebastian Giovinco have run hot at various times, but none of them was consistent enough through an entire season to be thought of as a true top-of-the-line goalscorer.

In his last two full seasons Llorente has scored 35 league goals—18 and 17, respectively. No Juve player has scored more than 10 league goals the last two seasons.

Llorente was brought into the team to fix that weakness.


Scratch Goals

It's not only the misses on clear chances that have caused Juve's fans to lose some hair the last few years. Few of Juve's strikers could take a half-chance and turn it into a goal with any consistency.

Llorente can make those chances count. The above goal, from the 2011-12 Europa League, is just such a chance.

Llorente streaked down the left side and volleyed a long pass from an angle at 14 yards into the bottom far corner. It was a fantastic strike, and one that helped Bilbao eliminate Manchester United from the Europa League.

These are the kinds of goals that Juve can hope to see with Llorente as a member of the squad.


Aerial Dominance

At 6'5", Fernando Llorente is a handful for any defender in the air.

Llorente's leaping ability is complimented by the power and accuracy of his heading ability. With Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah on the wings in the 3-5-2, Llorente can expect some good service into the box for him to bang into goal.

Also not to be forgotten is the service he could get on set pieces from dead-ball wizard Andrea Pirlo. It all means a great number of chances for Llorente to give keepers nightmares.

His ability to use his head to flick on to teammates like Carlos Tevez isn't a bad trait, either.


Proficiency with Both Feet

Llorente is capable of controlling and scoring with either foot.

For a player in Llorente's mold, the first touch is extraordinarily important. Llorente's excellent footwork allows him to take that first touch straight into a position to menace the opposing keeper.

Compare Llorente with a striker of a similar type who has been on Juve's roster for the last two-and-a-half years, Alessandro Matri.

If someone told you that Matri was one of the best strikers in Europe last year in terms of shot-to-goal ratio, you'd probably be surprised. But that's exactly the case. The problem for Matri? His first touch lets him down so often that he's not able to get into position to take as many shots.

When Llorente does get himself in that position, he won't have to wait to get onto his preferred right foot, as he's equally deadly with his left.


Making Space

The picture accompanying this slide is from the 2012 Europa League Final between Bilbao and Atletico Madrid. Llorente is standing, in green. Note how many defenders have been sucked in to defend Llorente.

The striker is bracketed by two Atletico players with a third on the way to help and a fourth looking on in case he's needed.

Such is the threat from Llorente that he will suck a few extra defenders to him. That will make space for Carlos Tevez (or whoever else is partnered with him) to sneak through for shots on goal. It will also make the channel runs of midfielders Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio that much deadlier.


Hold-Up Play

One of the biggest problems Juventus had in the Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich was the hold-up play of the forwards.

Particularly in the first leg at the Allianz Arena, Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Matri were unable to hold onto possession after long clearances. The Bavarians regained possession too quickly for the Juve midfielders to get forward to support, pinning the Bianconeri into the defensive half.

Llorente promises to do a better job of holding the ball up when the team is forced to play long from the back. Such play may be necessary deeper into Champions League play against teams like Barcelona and Bayern, where possession can be harder to come by and long balls from the back more necessary.


Tactical Flexibility

Llorente's presence will allow Antonio Conte to experiment with tactics this summer. He can keep the 3-5-2 that made his team the class of Italy in place, or he can do a few things different.

In the last few games of 20121-13 season, fans started seeing a 3-5-1-1 formation with Mirko Vucinic as the lone striker and Claudio Marchisio playing in the hole. It was probably more a way of getting Paul Pogba into the midfield than anything else, but it was also a good experiment for how Juve may be able to incorporate Llorente. Better as a lone striker than one of a pair, it would allow Carlos Tevez, Vucinic, or even Sebastian Giovinco playing in the hole with Marchisio moving back to his normal midfield position.

Another option would be the 4-3-3 that Conte used at the very beginning of his tenure with Juve. It would keep the MVP midfield intact, allow Stephan Lichtsteiner to play his more natural right-back position and shift Vucinic to the left wing, where he has proven very effective in his career. The downside would be that it wouldn't allow Llorente and Tevez to play together.

ESPNFC blogger Mina Rzouki wrote in a recent post that Conte has also been toying with an old-timey 3-3-4 formation in preseason training. The formation was used by teams like Herbert Champman's Arsenal sides in the 1920s and '30s and Tottenham Hotspur in the 1960s.

The formation has its advantages and disadvantages. The attacking potential would be phenomenal, allowing Llorente, Tevez and Vucinic to all be on the field together with Vucinic on the left wing. The wingers would have to track back to try to win the ball and help cover defensively, and the midfielders would have to be able to run forever—not necessarily something you want Andrea Pirlo to be doing on a regluar basis.

Great pressure would be put on the defense and midfield, and there would be questions about wing coverage. It would also likely force the dynamic defensive presence of Lichtsteiner off the field. There's also a question as to whether or not the team has the correct wingers on the roster to fulfill the duties the formation imposes on them.

Still, it's an option—one of the wealth that Conte now has at his disposal with Llorente in the fold.


Financial Flexibility

The biggest off-field aspect of the acquisition of Llorente is what Juve had to pay to get him.

Namely, nothing.

OK, not really nothing. Llorente's salary is reported to be €4.5 million, which is certainly a shot in the wage bill. But Llorente did not cost anything beyond that to acquire.

Juve tried to pry Llorente from Bilbao on an immediate transfer in January, but the Basque club refused to sell their striker rather than make something off of his move.

This means that Beppe Marotta was able to sign a supremely gifted striker without spending a dime on a transfer fee.

Marotta's wizardry with the free transfer has been one of the keys to Juve's resurrection. Andrea Pirlo arrived via the Bosman two seasons ago, and last year Juve nabbed wunderkind midfielder Paul Pogba. Both have turned into huge cogs in Antonio Conte's machine.

Not spending on a transfer fee for Llorente means more money for Juve to acquire players like Tevez and defender Angelo Ogbonna—not to mention any other moves Marotta has up his sleeve in the month remaining in the transfer window.


Hunger, Part 1

Fernando Llorente has spent the entirety of his top-flight career with Athletic Bilbao. In that time, the team has finished no higher than sixth and as low as 17th. In a league dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona, he has never sniffed a title and has never played in a Champions League game.

Despite that mid-table existence, Llorente has led Bilbao to a Europa League final, a pair of Copa del Rey finals, and a Spanish Supercup. The club were runners up every time.

Juventus is the best team Llorente has ever played for, and they give him the best chance he's ever had of claiming a winner's medal on the club level. That's a big carrot to put on the stick.

For a team that has sometimes been accused of complacency, that kind of motivation could be contagious, which could lead to an excellent season for the Bianconeri.


Experience, Part 1

It has been mentioned that Llorente has played in three final games and one two-legged final. While Bilbao lost all of them, that experience is valuable.

With a few exceptions—Pirlo and Tevez come to mind—Juventus's players don't have as much experience going deep into club tournaments. They made the final of the Coppa Italia two years ago, but the Coppa is not nearly as grueling a tournament for a top team like Juve than are its equivalents in other countries.

Juve's players make up the backbone of the Italian national team, so they have experience going deep into international tournaments, but club tournaments like the Champions League are a different ballgame. The grind of playing those games alongside the league games—and the long-distance travel involved—is different from an international. Those competitions stand alone and are usually in a localized area where travel is usually not as extensive.

To have another player with the experience of a deep run on the club is a valuable commodity, and will serve Juve well as the season goes on.


Experience, Part 2

Despite their differences, it doesn't hurt to have players who have had success on the highest level of them all.

Fernando Llorente has never won a title at the club level, but he was on the roster for Spain's triumphs in the 2010 World Cup and at Euro 2012.

Juve already have a pair of world champions on their team in Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon. Having another—especially one in the strike force—is a boon to any club.


Hunger, Part 2

Llorente has been on the roster for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. But his lack of playing time during his feud with Bilbao's management this year saw him lose his spot with La Roja in the Confederations Cup to Roberto Soldado.

Llorente will want his spot on the Spanish national team restored this year. That will take a great season for the Italian champions. Llorente will be motivated to make his second trip to the World Cup and will need to show Vicente Del Bosque that he deserves it.


Confidence Factor

There seemed to be a lack of confidence in Juve's forwards that was evident on the field. Between April 15 and May 5 midfielders Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio combined to score five consecutive goals while the forwards floundered. Overall, midfielders scored 38 of Juve's total goals this season.

The last two seasons Juve's leading scorer or joint-leading scorer has been a midfielder. There's just been something about the forwards that the team didn't trust.

A lot of that production from the midfielders comes from Conte's 3-5-2, but the midfielders have also had to take up the slack from a subpar strike group.

With Llorente and Tevez in the squad, the midfielders may be more confident in their ability to make the extra pass than to take the shot, which could end up putting the team in better position to score, either off that pass or later on in the movement.


Depth

The arrival of Llorente and Tevez has given Juve six strikers on the roster. That might be a bit much, and as many as two of the gaggle of Vucinic, Matri, Quagliarella, and Giovinco could be going elsewhere before the transfer window is finished.

Still, Juve has some great depth up front right now, and if Conte does settle on a 3-3-4 formation keeping five of the forwards would be a must, unless someone like Simone Pepe was pressed into service on the wings to give people some rest.

Conte has a wealth of options in his attack now that he can mix and match into formations as he sees fit. It's a perfect situation for any manager.

[Socrates 8467]

Valero hails Juve’s Llorente swoop

Jul 29, 2013

Fiorentina’s Borja Valero has congratulated arch-rivals Juventus for their successful swoop of Fernando Llorente.

The Old Lady wrapped up a deal for the Spanish international in January when he had less than six months left on his contract with Athletic Bilbao.

“Juve have made a great signing,” the Spanish midfielder told the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Unfortunately for us, he will help Juve to more trophies.”

The Italian champions have a new forward line after the summer Bosman capture of Llorente coincided with the signing of Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez.

“With Llorente and Tevez, Antonio Conte’s club are, more than ever, favourites to win the Scudetto again.”

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente hails Juventus squad

Jul 30, 2013

Fernando Llorente says he has been surprised by the compactness of the Juventus squad following his summer arrival.

The Spanish international has joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer after his contract at Athletic Bilbao expired.

“It is a magnificent, an incredible group,” he told the Juventus website in a club video. “It has been a real surprise.

“It’s not something you’d usually find in a team with such great players,” added the outfit’s new centre-forward.

“Perhaps other teams have excellent players like ours, but it’s different here. Everyone is friends and great teammates. I feel really good here.”

Llorente is currently with the Italian champions in USA, ahead of their Guinness International Champions Cup campaign.

“I feel well,” Llorente continued. “I’m really happy to be here in San Francisco and America.

“I believe it will be a very good tour. We begin against Everton and I think they’ll be a useful first test for us.”

The two teams will meet at the AT&T Park tomorrow.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente: Juventus must not panic

The former Athletic Bilbao man has downplayed the significance of Juve's
disappointing pre-season results on the back of successive defeats.

Aug 5, 2013

Fernando Llorente has insisted that Juventus have no reason to panic following their poor pre-season form and has urged his team to remain calm.

The Serie A champions had to settle for scoreless draws against AC Milan and Sassuolo at the Trofeo TIM earlier this summer, while they have been beaten by Everton and LA Galaxy at the International Champions Cup.

Nevertheless, Llorente remains unperturbed as he feels results are irrelevant at this stage of the season and is pleased with the progress being made behind the scenes.

http://markting10.nl/

"This is not the moment where results matter. Conclusions will be drawn at the end of the season," Llorente told reporters. "That's why we must remain calm and optimistic.

"We are working well at the training camp and the hard work can be tiring."

Juventus' 2013-14 campaign kicks off on August 18 with the Supercoppa Italiana against Lazio.

[Socrates 8467]

Spain select ‘Italian’ trio

Aug 9, 2013

Pepe Reina, Raul Albiol and Fernando Llorente have been included in the Spain squad for their friendly with Ecuador next week.

The trio all moved to Serie A this summer when Napoli swooped for the first two players from Liverpool and Real Madrid respectively, while the latter joined Juventus from Athletic Bilbao.

http://markting10.nl/

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Victor Valdes (Barcelona).

Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Jordi Alba (Barcelona).

Midfielders: Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Jesus Navas (Manchester City), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: David Silva (Manchester City), Isco (Real Madrid), Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City), Cristian Tello (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Juventus).

[Socrates 8467]

Juventus to drop Llorente?

Aug 11, 2013

Fernando Llorente has disappointed in pre-season and it’s rumoured Juventus could drop him for the Super Cup against Lazio.

The Spanish international arrived on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao, but was out of shape after barely featuring last season due to a contract dispute.

http://markting10.nl/

Coach Antonio Conte was spotted taking Llorente aside during training for a half-hour personalised lesson on tactics.

La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport now claim he has been so disappointing that Llorente will be dropped for the first official match of the season.

Juventus challenge Lazio for the Italian Super Cup in Rome on August 18 and the likely starting strikers are going to be Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente: I need time to adapt at Juventus

The Spanish attacker has stressed that it might take a while before
he's at his best due to the different conditions at the Turin giants.

Aug 13, 2013

Fernando Llorente has admitted that he will need time to settle in at Juventus, but remains confident that he made the right call to sign for the Serie A champions.

The Spain international joined the Bianconeri from Athletic Bilbao on a Bosman transfer after deciding not to renew his contract with the Basque outfit and he has urged the fans to remain patient as he will have to adapt to his new surroundings.

"I still think joining Juventus was the right decision. I need a bit of time to adapt to my new surroundings, but I have been received very well here," Llorente, 28, told El Larguero.

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"The coach has been using me as one of the two forwards in a 3-5-2 formation. I am doing things that I didn't used to do at Athletic, so I need to get used to my different role.

"I will need to improve my movement and the understanding with my team-mates.

"It's not true that [Antonio] Conte has told me that he's not happy with me so far. He's said that he's pleased with my work up till date."

The 28-year-old could make his official Juve debut in the Supercoppa Italia clash versus Lazio on August 18.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente still settling at Juventus

Aug 13, 2013

Fernando Llorente says it will take a little bit of time before Juventus see him at his very best.

The Spanish international joined the Old Lady this summer on a free transfer after his contract at Athletic Bilbao expired.

Llorente, though, has been criticised for his pre-season form in the centre of Antonio Conte’s new look attack.

“Juventus was the best decision for me,” the centre-forward told El Larguero. “I need to adapt and it will take time, but I have been welcomed well.

http://markting10.nl/

“The Coach uses me as an attacker in his 3-5-2, so I will need to improve my movement and understanding with my teammates.

“I need to do things which I haven’t done in the past, but things will improve.

“We have the Italian Super Cup against Lazio this weekend and I can’t wait until the championship begins.”

Llorente, though, may not be named in the starting XI against the Biancocelesti at the Stadio Olimpico. But he’s rejected suggestions that boss Conte has not been impressed with him so far.

“Those rumours are not true, they are lies,” added the 28-year-old. “Conte is happy with what I have been doing.

“We’ve had a really tough pre-season where we have worked a lot. I am doing all that is possible to integrate myself into the team’s way of playing.”

Llorente is currently on international duty ahead of a friendly against Ecuador.

[Socrates 8467]

Juventus deny Llorente exit claims

Aug 29, 2013

Juventus have dismissed speculation that new signing Fernando Llorente could be moved on before the transfer window closes.

The 28-year-old Spanish international is being paired with a possible loan switch to Barcelona, just a matter of months after leaving Athletic Bilbao on a Bosman.

http://markting10.nl/

“We believe in Llorente,” Old Lady director general Beppe Marotta is quoted as saying in Thursday’s Tuttosport. “We have no intention of selling him.”

Llorente’s future has been placed into doubt by some given that he hasn’t started in Juventus’ first two official games of the season.

Boss Antonio Conte preferred a strike partnership of Mirko Vucinic and Carlos Tevez in the wins over Lazio and Sampdoria in the Italian Super Cup and Serie A respectively.

[Socrates 8467]

Juventus: Llorente is not joining Barcelona

Juve's sporting director Giuseppe Marotta has dismissed suggestions the attacker
could leave the club just two months after arriving from Athletic Bilbao on a Bosman.

Aug 29, 2013

Juventus sporting director Giuseppe Marotta has refuted speculation linking striker Fernando Llorente with a loan move to Barcelona.

The 28-year-old is reported to be struggling to adapt to life in Italy following his Bosman move from Athletic Bilbao earlier this summer, leading to suggestions the Spain international could be loaned back to his homeland before the transfer window closes.

http://markting10.nl/

The Blaugrana are among those said to be monitoring the striker's situation in Turin, but Marotta has dismissed the notion that his stint with the Bianconeri could be over already.

He told Tuttosport: "We believe in Llorente and we have no intention of selling him."

Llorente, whose contract expires in 2017, is yet to start a competitive fixture for the Italian champions, with the forward being reduced to an 89th-minute cameo against Sampdoria on Sunday.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente thanks Juventus fans for continued support

The Spaniard has yet to score a goal for the Bianconeri and is currently
behind Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic in the striking pecking order.

Sep 5, 2012

Juventus striker Fernando Llorente has thanked the club's fans for standing by him during what has been a difficult start to life in Turin.

The Spain international joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao this summer but he has yet to find the back of the net for his new employers, having struggled to force his way into Antonio Conte's starting line-up ahead of either fellow new arrival Carlos Tevez or Mirko Vucinic.

http://markting10.nl/

Llorente is therefore touched that the club's fans are still showing him so much love from the stands.

"Many thanks to everyone for the trust shown in me and for continuing to believe in me," the forward wrote on his Facebook page.

"I want you to know that I am working day after day to repay your trust with great moments of happiness."

Llorente scored only four Liga goals during the final season of what was an otherwise successful spell at Athletic.

[Socrates 8467]

Real Madrid want Llorente?

Sep 12, 2013

FIFA agents added to Spanish speculation Juventus striker Fernando Llorente could join Real Madrid on loan in January.

http://markting10.nl/

The forward arrived over the summer as a free agent after his contract with Athletic Bilbao expired, but the 28-year-old has barely set foot on the pitch so far.

Both Italian and Spanish media have suggested Llorente could be available on loan in January to regain his fitness and form.

“Fernando Llorente could get transferred to Real Madrid and play in the Champions League, as he is not getting minutes with Juve,” commented FIFA accredited agent Francois Gallardo to Punto Pelota.

“Fernando is very good, he knows the Spanish League and if he arrives on loan then the club won’t be splashing out in January.”

[Socrates 8467]

Spurs seek El Shaarawy or Llorente

Sep 15, 2013

English papers claim Tottenham plan a January swoop for Stephan El Shaarawy or Fernando Llorente.

http://markting10.nl/

The Sunday People reports this morning that Andre Villas-Boas is again looking to Serie A for reinforcements.

His main target is 20-year-old Milan starlet El Shaarawy, who has fallen down the pecking order at San Siro with the arrival of Kaka and Alessandro Matri.

Another alternative for Spurs is Juventus centre-forward Llorente, who has barely featured since arriving on a Bosman from Athletic Bilbao.

The 28-year-old Spaniard managed just one stoppage-time substitute appearance in four competitive Juve games this season.

Director general Beppe Marotta and Coach Antonio Conte repeatedly stated they are waiting for Llorente to achieve full fitness after a year on the Bilbao bench, but there are growing reports a January loan move is preferable.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente will ponder Juve exit if…

Sep 16, 2013

Spanish newspaper Sport claims Fernando Llorente will consider a January transfer if he fails to break into the Juventus side.

http://markting10.nl/

The international striker joined the Old Lady in the summer on a Bosman after his contract with Athletic Bilbao expired.

However, the 28-year-old has made only one substitute appearance in the club’s first three League games of the campaign.

With the 2014 World Cup on the horizon, Llorente is said to be eager to get playing time in order to win his place in the Spain squad.

Speculation this month claims he could be of interest to Barcelona and Real Madrid once the winter window opens.

He’s also been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham by newspapers in Britain over the last few days.

Nevertheless, the Italian club have insisted that the centre-forward does have a future at the Juventus Stadium.

“There is no Llorente problem,” noted Juve director general Beppe Marotta recently. “Don’t forget that he didn’t play that regularly last season.

“When we sign a player and hand him a four year contract, we’re evidently not looking for immediate results in the space of one or two months.

“We believe in him and it is too early to judge.”

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente wants to stay at Juventus

Sep 16, 2013

Chus Llorente, brother of Juventus striker Fernando Llorente, has revealed that the player wants to stay with the club.

http://markting10.nl/

The 28-year-old was one of the Bianconeri’s big signings this summer, along with Carlos Tevez, after he joined from Athletic Bilbao, but there have been many rumours as of late that he may leave the Serie A side in January to play on loan with Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Llorente spoke to Tuttosport about his brother’s situation at Juve and claimed that he has no wishes of leaving.

“No, I do not speak on this,” said the sibling.

“I do not want to say anything and I haven’t said anything.

“And, most importantly, there is nothing to say. Fernando wants to stay at Juventus, period.”

Many rumours of a January transfer have been linked to the striker’s apparent struggle to assimilate into The Old Lady squad, though both the club and the player have assured that everything is fine in recent weeks.

[Socrates 8467]

Toni: Juve’s Llorente useful, but…

Sep 20, 2013

Verona’s Luca Toni has doubts about how well suited Fernando Llorente is to the Juventus tactics of Antonio Conte.

http://markting10.nl/

The Spanish international joined the Old Lady in the summer, but he has made just one late substitute appearance in the club’s first five official games of the campaign.

“Conte, on paper at least, prefers attackers with characteristics which are different to those of Llorente,” the former Bianconero striker told Tuttosport.

“He prefers strikers who play between themselves, who help out and are also good away from the goal.

“Saying that, I’m convinced that Juventus will spend a lot of time in the penalty areas of opponents and the Spaniard will be very useful.”

Toni, who didn’t play a part in the plans of Conte in Turin, is similar in stature to the man who left Athletic Bilbao on a Bosman in the summer.

“Such situations are hard, especially for players like myself and Llorente,” the 2006 World Cup winner added.

“In order to reach top form you have to play proper games. You either like a player or you don’t – if you do then you have to play him.

“We are players who are good in the air and we like to live in the penalty area. I just hope one thing for him – a bit of luck so that he can make the most of his chance that will sooner or later be given to him.”

Toni’s Verona will face Juve at the weekend, but the former Fiorentina and Bayern Munich ace is still struggling with an ankle problem.

“I don’t think I’ll make it. I’ll need a miracle. My unavailability will hurt because facing Juventus is always stimulating and beautiful.

“I’ll still go to the Juventus Stadium though, I have a lot of people to say hello to.”

Fernando Llorente continues to controversially sit on the Juventus bench, but Antonio Labbate thinks there should be more faith in the decisions of boss Antonio Conte.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente will be of use to Juventus, says Toni

The 36-year-old has little doubt that the former Athletic star
will prove to be a good signing for the Scudetto holders.

Sep 20, 2012

Former Italy international Luca Toni is confident that Fernando Llorente will eventually prove to be a useful addition for Juventus.

http://markting10.nl/

The Spanish attacker has been struggling to live up to the high expectations since his summer move from Athletic Bilbao and has mainly been forced to watch from the sidelines.

However, Toni has little doubt that Llorente will become a valuable first team member at Juventus once he has adapted to his new surroundings.

"Llorente has always done well in La Liga and with Spain's national team. Juventus signed him because they think he can add something. It's way too soon to write him off," Toni told Tuttosport.

"At the moment, it seems as if Conte prefers attackers with different characteristics than Llorente. He prefers attackers who combine well, help each other and can add something outside the box, too.

"That being said, I am convinced that Juventus will spend a lot of time in their opponents' area and Llorente will prove to be useful."

Llorente has made just one official appearance for the Serie A champions so far.

[Socrates 8467]

Fernando Llorente: PATIENTLY Awaiting The Lion King

Sep 21, 2013

It may only be mid-September and a mere three weeks into the new season, but already the stories have begun to appear. In not only the Italian sports dailies, but also their Spanish and English counterparts, “The Caso Llorente” is discussed at length.

http://markting10.nl/

He has yet to be tarnished with the ‘mysterious object’ tag that is often attached to players who never take to the field, but the reasons for the Spanish striker’s lack of action is being brought into question. Yet in almost every instance the conversation is short on reason and quickly descends into transfer talk as, naturally, the more times a post mentions Barcelona, Chelsea or [insert your club of choice here] the more hits it will garner.

“We know him well, were fortunate and smart enough to sign Llorente for free and he’s trying to get into our system. There ought to be some respect and not just hurling insults at someone or piling on the pressure to create a headline. The media creates controversy out of nothing.”
- Antonio Conte

fernando-llorente-juventus-friendly-matchThis is essentially something that, much to the dismay of the tabloid press, should indeed not even be a story at this point. Rather than the usual click-whoring prevalent in most pieces however, there was one sensible and reasoned line in Thursday’s edition of La Repubblica. In it, columnist Timmothy Ormezzano wrote; “Fernando has very quickly assimilated Italian but not yet the language of Conte’s football.”

Having played under Marcelo Bielsa and been a part of Spain’s all-conquering national team, the player is clearly capable of playing a high tempo style. Under the Argentinean coach, he would have been taught – to quote the great Arrigo Sacchi – how to press, partial press, fake press and totally press! During the 2011-12 season in which both Llorente and Athletic enjoyed much success, he made more tackles (37) and interceptions (52) than any striker in Bianconero has under Conte.

He also worked that hard whilst also displaying a prolific scoring rate – 29 goals in 53 appearances – that the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Marco Borriello and even Alessandro Matri could never replicate.

So, while he may not yet be calling Carlos Tevez a matòt like the a native of Basso Piemonte, those fortunate enough to speak to the 28 year old in recent days can attest his grasp of Italian is more than passable. Taking Conte and Beppe Marotta’s recent comments into account, the only issue remaining is one of sharpness.

One need only look at the rustiness of new Chelsea signing Samuel Eto’o to see how seriously a lack of sharpness affects a quality striker. As Jose Mourinho told reporters after the Premier League side lost to Basel this week: “Samuel, maybe, lacks sharpness but this is something that doesn’t surprise me because, when you are two and a half years at a place that doesn’t motivate you, off the main stage, maybe you are there not for the right reasons and you lose the hunger, the appetite.”

If that can happen to the Cameroonian star – who made 71 appearances (while earning countless millions!) for Anzhi Makhachkala – then making just four league starts for Athletic would surely have a similar effect on Llorente. Even without the upheaval of leaving his beloved Basque homeland, the manner in which he was ostracised for not signing a new contract would obviously take its toll.

Of course, many will scream that the only way to gain full match fitness is, well, to play in actual matches. That may be true but here is where those using reason and facts can do a little yelling of their own.

With the Lega Calcio abandoning the practice of delaying matches between Serie A’s big clubs, 2013-14 has seen Juventus begin their title defence with a tougher than usual opening month. Having already played their first game in the Champions League, la vecchia Signora has already met Lazio, Inter and Sampdoria. The latter achieved wins over the Bianconeri both home and away last term meaning Conte, a man who almost perfectly embodies the ‘Spirito Juve’ was never going to take them lightly.

“Juventus was the best decision for me, but I need to adapt and it will take time.”
- Fernando Llorente

As Gianpiero Boniperti taught us so well, winning is the only thing that counts at Juventus. The desire to ensure the team hit the ground running may not have helped the integration of the Old Lady’s new acquisition but, with games against Hellas, Chievo and Torino on the horizon, the man known as el Rey León will get his chance.

In delivering two league titles and restoring the Old Lady’s reputation Antonio Conte has earned the right to be trusted. He says Llorente will play when he is ready and it seems only a matter of if not when. To doubt someone who has shown he has no difficulty expressing his unhappiness with a player – such as Reto Ziegler – seems foolhardy. To do so over a player he was so instrumental in signing would be utterly ridiculous.

Stay calm, have faith in the coach and don’t believe all you read.

[Socrates 8467]

Juventus’ fifth-choice forward - is Llorente going
the same way as Anelka and Bendtner?

With the Bianconeri clearly having doubts in the 28-year-old's ability,
the Spaniard looks set to be another attacking outcast this season.

Sep 21, 2012

COMMENT
By Kris Voakes

When Juventus announced in January that they would add Fernando Llorente to their ranks in the summer, the move was expected to be a win-win scenario for both parties. Having been frozen out by Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao, the player was in need of a fresh start - and quickly - while the champions of Italy were adding some strength to an under-performing forward line.

http://markting10.nl/

Things have not exactly gone swimmingly since the striker arrived in Turin, though. Such have been coach Antonio Conte’s concerns so far, Llorente has played 20 times less football for Juve than he had for Athletic at this stage last year.

The first serious doubts set in during pre-season, with Llorente looking short not just physically but also tactically. Devoid of any notable movement and lacking in understanding of how to marry his skills as a front man with Juve’s tried and tested formula, the Spain international appeared a long way from ready to step into the first team.

JUVE WANT LLORENTE FIT IN A MONTH

Coming from a complex situation at Athletic Bilbao was always going to be tough for Llorente. So far, he has been working for two months with Juventus, but Conte asks for a certain type of play and implementing this into his natural style will not be easy.

But there is trust between the two parties. Juve wanted Llorente last summer and were even willing to pay €18m. They knew what they were doing. There is no real interest from other clubs and the intention is to get Llorente up to 100 per cent by mid-October.

- Romeo Agresti | Juventus Correspondent

Since then, the striker has been on the outside looking in. Of a possible 450 minutes of play in competitive fixtures this season, the 28-year-old has so far played one, as a late substitute for Sebastian Giovinco in the Serie A season opener at Sampdoria. This was not the original plan.

The party line is that Llorente’s transition into the Bianconeri squad has just been delayed somewhat by his lack of first-team opportunities over the past 12 months and his subsequent need to adapt back into full-time football, but there has to be a fear now that Conte will be left with another unwanted striker on his hands.

Nicklas Bendtner’s loan always looked like a ridiculous move, with director general Giuseppe Marotta admitting from the very start that the Dane was not the big name they wanted, while Nicolas Anelka was similarly underused after being brought in to cover Bendtner’s absence through injury. But the reality is that neither player would ever have donned a Juve shirt had the Old Lady signed the front man they really wanted in the summer of 2012. And that man was Llorente.

Having been linked for long spells to Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski, it became obvious that Llorente was both their more realistic option and their preferred target. They were ready to offer €18 million for their man, but couldn’t push a deal through. As things have turned out they’ve saved themselves an eight-figure transfer fee by waiting until his Athletic contract had expired but ended up signing Llorente at his lowest ebb.

Had they signed him last summer, they would have been presented with a hot prospect full of confidence and goals alike. His inability to mesh with incumbent team-mates would likely have been dealt with in a much more orderly manner. Instead, they now face up to having a player struggling to rediscover himself as a footballer, let alone a goalscorer. With the plan now being to relaunch the No.14 in mid-October, the very best scenario is that they will be nursing a striker approaching 29 back into action 15 months after they could have had an in-form 27-year-old hitting the ground running.

For the player himself, this couldn’t be a bigger season. The first transfer of his senior career has come ahead of probably his last World Cup representing a country whose one perceived weak spot in recent years has been their shallow resources front and centre. In a campaign when Llorente should be making it impossible for Vicente del Bosque to overlook him, right now it is inconceivable that the national coach will bother watching any Juventus fixtures any time soon.

Llorente certainly hasn’t been helped by the way that Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic have linked up since being thrown together in the summer. Their form as a partnership over the first few weeks of the season was spectacular, on the one hand giving Juve time to be patient with Llorente but on the other limiting his importance to the Bianconeri over the short and medium term.

If Juve’s new plan to gradually bring him into the set up over the next month doesn’t pay off, then the Llorente situation will become critical as winter sets in. They may not have received a bid for him yet, but they may need one come January in order to get him some football. It is all well and good trying to give a player first-team football bit by bit but Llorente needs more than that.

After his year without regular games with Athletic, he needs a lot of time and understanding. October, maybe even November, may not be time enough, especially considering he will be expected to change his style of play quite markedly. A player well known for his lack of mobility outside of the 18-yard box will need to blend in to a Juve side who placed third in the standings for average metres covered in the Champions League last season behind Dortmund and Ajax. During pre-season there was no cohesion between player and club, precipitating the current hiatus and throwing doubts in the mind as to whether two are right for each other.

Judgement day has been postponed, but clearly all is not well in the early days of Llorente and Juventus’ marriage. And while both insist that a divorce is not on the cards, further teething problems will surely mean that a trial separation in January will be the only way to add some spice to their relationship.

[Socrates 8467]

Llorente: I needed time

Sep 23, 2013

Fernando Llorente has defended the cautious way in which he has been used by boss Antonio Conte following his arrival at Juventus.

http://markting10.nl/

The striker had only been fielded as a very late substitute in one of the club’s first five official games of the season.

However, he was thrown into the starting XI against Verona on Sunday and celebrated his debut at the Juventus Stadium with a headed goal.

“I normally take a bit of time to hit form and knew I’d have to work a great deal, also because I pretty much missed the whole of last season,” said the Bosman signing from Athletic Bilbao.

“In addition I needed to settle in and learn the language – and adapting to a new environment is never an easy task for anyone.

“I’m getting on great here and feel the Coach has faith in me, but I know I need to keep working to get back into peak condition.”

The 28-year-old’s strike proved to be the winner after Carlos Tevez had cancelled out Verona’s shock advantage.

“I didn’t expect to net on my debut,” added the Spaniard. “I’m happy about scoring and contributing to the team’s victory.”