Nedved to stay, say Juve

Alessandro del Piero claims Pavel Nedved, a reported target for Tottenham, is ready to stay with Juventus despite the club’s relegation to Serie B following a match-fixing scandal.

Del Piero has already indicated his intention to stay with the Turin club, who will also start next season with a 30-point deduction.

Juve sporting director Alessio Secco revealed: “Del Piero has told me that he and Nedved will definitely remain at the club.”

Secco also claimed Real Madrid will have to increase their offer if they wish to sign Fabio Cannavaro, Emerson and Gianluca Zambrotta. Juve have turned down a reported £20.5m (€30m) bid for the trio.

Secco added: “We will meet with them again in the next few days to continue to negotiate.

“We are willing to sell players as long as we receive adequate offers.”

Juve are hoping to see their punishment reduced having appealed against Friday’s verdict to the Italian Federal Court in order to have a chance to return to Serie A in the 2007-08 season.