Brinksmanship, Blessings & Benitez

The Rafael Benitez to Juventus saga rumbles on, with almost hourly updates from various news sources. Last week I attempted to cut out the false deadlines, the media-speak & "sources close to the club/coach/his pet iguana" and look at the benefits of the move. Come on keep up!

"If I stay there will be trouble, if I go...."

This week saw a number of key men give their blessing to the move - Gigi Buffon & Alessandro Del Piero. Given that the captain is a shoo-in for a directors role in the not too distant future, he looks to be practising appointing coaches already.

In addition Benitez seems to be living up to the stereotype of his countrymen, & his constant cries of "manyana, manyana", & the Juve board have started to get impatient. Contact has apparently been made with Luciano Spalletti of Zenit & another attempt to lure Cesare Prandelli from Florence.

It remains to be seen if this mere posturing on both parts, but that May 10 shareholder meeting looms large on the horizon & Andrea Agnelli will be keen to have his man in place by then. Meanwhile all we can do is watch & wait...