Juventus have confirmed the signing of winger Nicolas Gonzalez from Fiorentina in a reported €32 million move.

Gonzalez finished last season with 14 goal contributions in Serie A as Fiorentina finished eighth and reached the final of the Europa Conference League for the second year running.

The forward also helped Argentina win the Copa America in the off-season, and on Sunday, completed his switch to Turin.

Speaking of Gonzalez's addition, as well as the impending signing of Francisco Conceicao from Porto, new Juve boss Thiago Motta said: "They are strong players which is why they will come to our squad. Every player that arrives will give us a big hand to be competitive until the end.

"That is the case for those already here and those who will arrive."

Motta's team started their Serie A campaign with a 3-0 win over Cesc Fabregas' Como last week, and face Hellas Verona on Monday.

"We remain with our feet on the ground after the first day of the championship," Motta said on Sunday.

"Now we are on the second day, we face a team that is in good form after their victory against a team that is a serious candidate for the Scudetto.

"We played at home against Como, which was a good performance and a good result for us. Tomorrow I expect a different story and we have to be ready for everything.

"You look at it from the outside but from the inside my life is beautiful. I wake up early with great energy and enthusiasm to come to training.

"I find myself with fantastic people who have that same enthusiasm. I find myself with guys who arrive with a huge desire to improve."

Fiorentina have left winger Nico Gonzalez out of their squad for Thursday's Europa Conference League clash with Puskas Akademia amid suggestions he is close to joining Juventus.

Gonzalez is reportedly a top target for new Juve head coach Thiago Motta, with the Bianconeri expected to sell Federico Chiesa and bring in another wide player.

The Argentina international joined Fiorentina in 2021 and has become one of their foremost attacking threats, contributing 12 goals and two assists in 29 league appearances last term.

However, he was left out by new boss Raffaele Palladino as Fiorentina started their Serie A campaign with a 1-1 draw at Parma last week.

He will also play no part when they host Hungarian side Puskas Akademia at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the first leg of their play-off tie.

La Gazzetta dello Sport have reported Juventus submitted an improved bid of €32million for Gonzalez on Wednesday, with the 26-year-old believed to be keen on the move.

Juventus have revealed midfielder Khephren Thuram and winger Timothy Weah both suffered hamstring injuries in their season-opening victory over Como in Serie A.

Juve began their first campaign under former Bologna coach Thiago Motta with a 3-0 win over Cesc Fabregas' newly promoted side in Turin.

Forward Samuel Mbangula put the Bianconeri ahead with a fine solo goal before Weah blasted home off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0 shortly before half-time.

However, the United States wideman was substituted at the break after appearing to suffer a hamstring strain, while Thuram – signed from Nice last month – was also withdrawn before Andrea Cambiaso added a late third.

The Italian giants have now confirmed both players sustained hamstring issues and will be reassessed in around 10 days, ruling them out of Monday's trip to Verona and potentially the September 1 clash with Roma.

"Following muscular problems suffered during last night's match, Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah underwent diagnostic tests this morning at the J Medical Centre," a club statement said. 

"They revealed for the former a low-grade hamstring injury in his left thigh and for the latter a low-grade hamstring injury in his right thigh. 

"New examinations are scheduled for both players in approximately 10 days' time."

Juventus beat newly promoted Como 3-0 in their Serie A opener at the Allianz Stadium on Monday as new coach Thiago Motta enjoyed a dream competitive debut with the club.

Forward Samuel Mbangula put Juve in front in the 23rd minute with a fine solo effort, driving infield before firing the ball into the bottom corner.

The Bianconeri then extended their lead in first-half stoppage time through winger Timothy Weah, who lashed home from a Kenan Yildiz cutback as the ball bounced in off the inside of the bar.

Youngster Andrea Cambiaso then added a third from distance just before full-time after Dusan Vlahovic had gone close on several occasions.

Juve, who finished third behind champions Inter and Milan last season to secure their return to the Champions League, next travel to Verona on August 26. 

Data Debrief: Motta's men dominate 

Juventus' victory was their 60th on the opening matchday of a Serie A season, the most of any club in the competition's history. That includes eight wins in their last nine such games (one draw).

While hopes were high that Como – under the management of Cesc Fabregas – could take the game to their hosts, Motta's side were in control throughout.

They did not concede a single shot on target for the second time in Serie A this calendar year, previously doing so in a goalless draw with Milan in April.

Thiago Motta is confident Juventus will be competitive at the start of the Serie A season despite having more work to do in the transfer market. 

It has been a period of change at the Allianz Stadium, with Motta replacing Massimiliano Allegri as head coach after four years without a league title for the Turin giants, which followed a run of nine straight Scudetto triumphs.

The Bianconeri have brought in midfielders Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram but are yet to strengthen their attack despite links with Teun Koopmeiners and Nicolas Gonzalez.

Their struggles in the transfer market could mean the likes of Weston McKennie, who looked to be on his way out at the end of 2023-24, could return to the fold for their Serie A opener against Cesc Fabregas' Como on Monday.

Motta, however, has faith in the players available to him, saying at Sunday's pre-match press conference: "First of all, McKennie is a useful and functional player for our needs.

"Tomorrow we have 19 players to face the game, only 11 can play. I have the possibility to make five substitutions, no more.

"We are in good shape, had good preparation, good training this week, with intensity, everything we want to see, and ready to face tomorrow's game."

Juventus are also likely to offload Italy forward Federico Chiesa, among others, and though former Bologna coach Motta knows there is plenty of work to be done, he is focused purely on starting his reign with a win.

"We are working hard to build a competitive squad together and today we are focused on playing a great game against Como. We will see the rest later," Motta said.

"The most important thing is that, even if you don't like to talk too much about the game, we are focused on playing well, doing our job well and getting the result we want against Como.

"All the players who come tomorrow deserve to be there, whether they play from the start or come in during the game, they do so on merit.

"Nothing is taken for granted, we have to deserve it and we have to focus on ourselves and on tomorrow's game.

"We are facing a team that has made it here from Serie B, they have won many games to get to this point, they have a lot of enthusiasm."

Kenan Yildiz has renewed his contract at Juventus, extending his stay with the 36-time Serie A champions until the end of the 2028-29 season. 

Yildiz, who starred for Turkiye at Euro 2024, will also don a new number for the upcoming campaign, taking the 10 shirt previously worn by Paul Pogba. 

The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year with I Bianconeri last year, making his debut against Udinese in August before going on to make 27 league appearances. 

He netted his first goal on his first start for the club, striking in a 2-1 win over Frosinone, notching his second two games later against the same opponents in the Coppa Italia.

Yildiz also helped his nation reach the quarter-finals of the European Championships for the first time since 2008, featuring in all of their games in Germany. 

Turkiye became the first country since Hungary at Euro 1964 to have two players under the age of 20 in the starting line-up in a major tournament knockout match, with Yildiz lining up alongside Real Madrid's Arda Guler in their 2-1 win over Austria. 

Juventus kickstart their league season next week against Como, with new head coach Thiago Motta hopeful of making a winning start at the Allianz Stadium. 

Kenan Yildiz has renewed his contract at Juventus, extending his stay with the 36-time Serie A champions until the end of the 2028-29 season. 

Yildiz, who starred for Turkiye at Euro 2024, will also don a new number for the upcoming campaign, taking the number 10 shirt previously worn by Paul Pogba. 

The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough year with I Bianconeri last year, making his debut against Udinese in August before going on to make 27 league appearances. 

He netted his first goal on his first start for the club, striking in a 2-1 win over Frosinone, notching his second two games later against the same opponents in the Coppa Italia.

Yildiz also helped his nation reach the quarter-finals of the European Championships for the first time since 2008, featuring in all of their games in Germany. 

Turkiye became the first country since Hungary at Euro 1964 to have two players under the age of 20 in the starting line-up in a major tournament knockout match, with Yildiz lining up alongside Real Madrid's Arda Guler in their 2-1 win over Austria. 

Juventus kickstart their league season next week against Como, with new head coach Thiago Motta hopeful of making a winning start at the Allianz Stadium. 

Wojciech Szczesny has left Juventus after reaching a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old, who spent seven seasons at Juventus, had one year left on his contract but is now available as a free agent.

He made 252 appearances for Juve after joining in July 2017, keeping 103 clean sheets in all competitions. He won three Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia three times during his stay. 

"In an instant, Tek conquered the Juventus fans of the world and we are sure that we will all always carry in our hearts the man and the professional who wore our jersey with pride and commitment," Juventus said in a statement.

"Thank you for everything Tek and good luck for the future."

Szczesny began his career at Arsenal, joining the club at age 15 in 2006, before signing for Juventus having had loan spells at Brentford and Roma.

Juventus signed Michele Di Gregorio from Monza in July, while Italian media have linked Szczesny with a move in the other direction or to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was "not interested in listening to the Class of '92" during his stint at Manchester United.

Ibrahimovic spent two years with United between 2016 and 2018, helping them win the EFL Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho.

The Swedish striker scored 29 goals in 53 appearances for the Red Devils.

However, he paid little attention to their illustrious past during his time at the club.

"In my mindset, I want to make my own history. I was not interested in what happened before, with all respect," he told The Athletic.

"[It] brings pressure to live up to what they were used to, but I was not interested in listening to the Class of '92.

"That doesn't help me because I wanted to [make] my own history. I wanted people to say, 'You won and United won this together.'"

Ibrahimovic's career spanned an impressive 24 years, with his move to the Premier League heavyweights coming when the striker was already 35.

He added: "People said I'm too old, I should retire, blah blah blah. But this triggers me. This — I will prove you wrong."

During his time in Manchester, Ibrahimovic won his first major European trophy, and he credits manager Mourinho for the success he experienced during his stint in England.

"Jose was a machine. He brings the best out of you. He's that person — manipulative. He knows how to get in your head. He knows how to treat you, independent of your level," Ibrahimovic said.

"He reminded me of [Fabio] Capello. But a newer version. Discipline. Hardcore. Intense. Not the soft types. This is what I like."

Ibrahimovic played under ex-England manager Capello while at Juventus from 2004 to 2006. And those disciplinarian values that were on display under Mourinho, also spurred him on in Italy.

"[Capello] was destroying me. But at the same time building me. How? Easy. 'Today you were s***. Tomorrow you’re the best.' And it would go like that," he recalled.

"So, when you think you're the best, he would destroy you. Then it becomes confusion and you don’t know: 'F***, am I really the best or am I s***?' So, when you were down, he was building you up.

"I didn’t understand it. There was no balance. But it made me always give 200%. He shaped me."

The five-time Serie A champion is now working as an advisor to Milan's board. While he was not overawed with United's history, he has learned from his former club's winning culture.

"You need an identity, culture and a tradition from the club, as well as a coach. A winner creates winners. Losers don't create winners. That's a culture," Ibrahimovic explains.

"When you come into the club, as a young talent or a player with potential, the club will shape you because you grow to understand the way a club works and the surroundings. At Milan, we want to create this in a positive way."

Thiago Motta has urged Federico Chiesa to find a new club "as soon as possible" after making it clear he will not be part of his plans at Juventus.

After a successful season at Bologna, Motta replaced Massimiliano Allegri at Juve and is preparing to put his stamp on the club ahead of the upcoming Serie A campaign.

In an attempt to update the squad, the Italian has targeted a list of players he expects to depart before the end of the transfer window.

Chiesa, who joined Juventus from Fiorentina in October 2020, is one of those on the list after failing to put pen to paper on a contract extension offered to him at the end of last season.

Motta had hinted in the past that the 26-year-old could be on his way out of Turin, but after leaving him out for a pre-season friendly against Brest, he has now confirmed that Chiesa is not part of his plans.

"Chiesa and all the other players not called up for the game are not part of the project," Motta said.

"We have been clear with them; they have to find a new solution and new club as soon as possible. The decision has been made."

Chiesa has made 131 appearances for Juventus in all competitions and played a pivotal role in helping them to the Coppa Italia title last season.

His nine goals in 33 Serie A appearances are his highest goal tally in a single league season, while he also created more chances (54) and recorded more completed dribbles (35) than anyone else in Juventus’ squad in the top-flight.

There has been interest in Chiesa from Chelsea and Bayern Munich, but the Italy international is yet to make a decision on his future with just one year remaining on his Juventus contract.

The others rumoured to be on Motta's upheaval list include Wojciech Szczesny, Weston McKennie, Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Rugani and Arthur.

Dean Huijsen has completed a £12.6million move to Bournemouth from Juventus, the club confirmed on Tuesday. 

Huijsen, who made just one senior appearance for Juventus, has signed a six-year deal with Andoni Iraola's side. 

The 19-year-old spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan with Roma, making 14 league appearances and scoring twice. 

Huijsen helped the Giallorossi to a sixth place finish in Serie A, keeping four clean sheets across all of his outings. 

The Dutch defender's addition fits in with Iraola's possession philosophy, completing 393 of his 451 attempted passes last season, a pass accuracy of 87.14%. 

He becomes the Cherries’ fourth senior signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Alex Paulsen, Daniel Jebbison and the permanent addition of Enes Unal.

Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said: “We are delighted to bring in a player of such high calibre on a long-term deal.

"Dean is someone that has such exciting potential and we are all excited to see where his journey with the club will go.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming him to Vitality Stadium and working together to help develop further all the qualities that he already possesses.”

Thiago Motta's first game in charge of Juventus ended in defeat as an unfamiliar Bianconeri side was thrashed 3-0 by 2. Bundesliga outfit Nurnberg on Friday.

The likes of Timothy Weah, Nicolo Fagioli and Dusan Vlahovic were limited to substitute roles as Motta selected a young side at Max-Morlock-Stadion, with the latter hitting the post with a second-half penalty at 1-0.

Caspar Jander had earlier given Nurnberg a 19th-minute lead, and they put some gloss on the scoreline with two late strikes after Vlahovic's missed spot-kick.

Substitutes Dustin Forkel and Tim Janisch both converted from inside the penalty area in the final four minutes as Motta's reign began in disappointing fashion.

The Bianconeri are next in action versus Brest on Saturday, with a further friendly against Atletico Madrid in the diary before they begin their Serie A campaign at Como on August 19.

Data Debrief: Juve's second string miss their chance

It's fair to say few of the youngsters selected by Motta made a big impression, with the Bianconeri only managing two shots to Nurnberg's seven before they rang the changes at half-time.

No Juventus starter created a chance in Bavaria, and things did not get much better when Motta made his changes, with Vlahovic in particular enduring a disappointing outing. 

He only had 18 touches, one of them coming when he struck the woodwork from 12 yards.  

Thiago Motta insists that Federico Chiesa remains a Juventus player "for now" amid growing uncertainty around his future with the 36-time Serie A champions. 

Chiesa, who has made 131 appearances for Juventus, was offered a new deal before the end of last season but is yet to put pen to paper on fresh terms. 

The Italian's contract runs out next year with the possibility of Juventus losing him on a free, as the club are eager for the 26-year-old to make a decision. 

Chiesa has been of interest to fellow Serie A sides Roma and Napoli, with several Premier League teams also keen to add the Italy international to their ranks.

The Bianconeri are currently preparing for the new season in Germany, but Chiesa not part of Motta's travelling squad. 

“He’s part of Juventus at this moment and then we’ll see," Motta told reporters ahead of Juventus' first pre-season friendly against Nuremberg on Friday. 

Chiesa played a pivotal role in Juventus' 15th Coppa Italia success against Atalanta in May, also helping the club to a third place finish in Serie A. 

He created more chances (54) and recorded more completed dribbles (35) than anyone in the Juventus squad in Italy's top flight, with his nine goals in 33 appearances only bettered by Dusan Vlahovic's 16. 

Former Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci, who played alongside Chiesa in Turin between 2020 and 2023, offered a straightforward response when asked about his former team-mates future at the club. 

“I don’t know if Chiesa will stay or leave. I think he needs to understand what he wants,” Bonnuci said. 

"In recent years, he had difficulties in terms of physicality and character, now he needs to take another step to become a top player. I hope he will be at Juventus."

Thiago Motta insists that Federico Chiesa remains a Juventus player "for now" amid growing uncertainty around his future with the 36-time Serie A champions. 

Chiesa, who has made 131 appearances for Juventus, was offered a new deal before the end of last season but is yet to put pen to paper on fresh terms. 

The Italian's contract runs out next year with the possibility of Juventus losing him on a free, as the club are eager for the 26-year-old to make a decision. 

Chiesa has been of interest to fellow Serie A sides Roma and Napoli, with several Premier League teams also keen to add the Italy international to their ranks.

The Bianconeri are currently preparing for the new season in Germany, with Chiesa not part of Motta's travelling squad. 

“He’s part of Juventus at this moment and then we’ll see," Motta told reporters ahead of Juventus' first pre-season friendly against Nuremberg on Friday. 

Chiesa played a pivotal role in Juventus' 15th Coppa Italia success against Atalanta in May, also helping the club to a third place finish in Serie A. 

He created more chances (54) and recorded more completed dribbles (35) than anyone in the Juventus squad in Italy's top flight, with his nine goals in 33 appearances only bettered by Dusan Vlahovic's 16. 

Former Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci, who played alongside Chiesa in Turin between 2020 and 2023, offered a straightforward response when asked about his former team-mates future at the club. 

“I don’t know if Chiesa will stay or leave. I think he needs to understand what he wants,” Bonnuci said. 

"In recent years, he had difficulties in terms of physicality and character, now he needs to take another step to become a top player. I hope he will be at Juventus."

Top European leagues and players' union FIFPRO have launched legal action against FIFA, accusing the governing body of abusing its dominant position and harming player welfare by oversaturating the calendar.

The European Leagues – a body representing 39 leagues including the Premier League – has filed a complaint to the European Union's antitrust regulators.

The move comes amid controversy regarding the calendar, with the first edition of FIFA's expanded Club World Cup set to take place in the United States next year.

Last month, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti suggested the European champions could boycott the competition, only for Los Blancos to subsequently confirm their participation in a statement.

FIFPRO launched legal action against FIFA at the Brussels court of commence in the ensuing days, claiming the decision to schedule the Club World Cup had violated players' rights.

The union has now joined a number of leagues in taking the issue to EU lawmakers, with a joint statement reading: "The international match calendar is now beyond saturation and has become unsustainable for national leagues and a risk for the health of players.

"FIFA's decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.

"National leagues and player unions, which represent the interests of all clubs and all players at the national level and regulate labour relations through collectively agreed solutions, cannot accept that global regulations are decided unilaterally.

"Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and workforce from FIFA's unilateral decisions."

Madrid and Manchester City are among 12 European clubs to have booked a spot at the first 32-team Club World Cup, due to their recent Champions League successes.

Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter and Juventus will also feature, with most qualifiers being determined by a ranking system that awards points for victories in the Champions League.