Dusan Vlahovic pledged to improve on his first half-season with Juventus and "become a champion" as the Bianconeri prepare to end their Serie A campaign against his former club Fiorentina.
Vlahovic joined Massimiliano Allegri's side in a €70million move in January after scoring 17 goals in 21 Serie A appearances for Vincenzo Italiano's men this season, adding a further seven in 14 league appearances for the Old Lady since arriving in Turin.
The striker became the joint-highest scoring Serbian player in Serie A history in Monday's 2-2 draw with Lazio (51 – level with Dejan Stankovic), while one more league goal would make him just the second player aged under 23 years old to hit 25 in a Serie A season in 60 years – the other being Ronaldo for Inter in 1997-98.
However, Vlahovic has struggled to match his Fiorentina form during Juventus' frustrating end to the campaign, averaging a league goal every 151.86 minutes for Juve as opposed to every 109.47 minutes for his former club.
Juventus are guaranteed to finish fourth in Serie A for a second consecutive season, having won the title in each of the nine previous campaigns, and lost the Coppa Italia final to rivals Inter this month.
But Vlahovic remains happy with his decision to move to Turin and sees room for improvement moving forward.
Speaking at the Turin book fair, Vlahovic was asked about former Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli labelling him a "true champion" recently, replying: "I would like to say, speaking of myself as a champion... I don't like it. There is a long way to go, to work. I will give my all and I hope I will become a champion.
"I like Juve's DNA, this desire to fight and not give up, to go over the limit, until the end.
"I am a bit like that too. I like working, above all because when I stop playing, even if it's early, I don't want to have regrets. I want to give everything, I don't want to have regrets.
"This is my job, I am privileged and I don't see why it should be different. You can always do better. Even when you have done something extraordinary, you must be aware and satisfied, without exaggerating."
Juventus can end this Serie A campaign with a maximum of 73 points, guaranteeing their worst such return since the 2010-11 campaign (58 points, under Luigi Delneri).
The Bianconeri's hopes of a successful campaign suffered a huge blow when Italy's Euro 2020 star Federico Chiesa suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January.
Vlahovic played with Chiesa at Fiorentina and cannot wait to see the winger return to full fitness next term as he looks to rekindle their on-pitch relationship.
"He saw me grow up as a kid," he said of Chiesa. "We shared three years at Fiorentina, luckily we're together again.
"He got injured when I arrived, I hope he'll be back as soon as possible. We hope to find our understanding on the pitch, which has remained from Florence.
"I can't wait to play with him, to take the field and fight with him and win together."
Reynolds and McElhenney's Wrexham get their Hollywood meeting with Man Utd
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are taking Wrexham to the United States, where the non-league club will face Manchester United.
San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium will host the friendly on July 25.
Wrexham, who this month signed former United goalkeeper Ben Foster, are pushing for promotion from the National League.
They sit three points clear of Notts County, while they also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, losing to Sheffield United, who have gone on to reach the semi-finals.
The Welsh club were bought by Hollywood A-listers Reynolds and McElhenney in 2020.
"We're looking forward to being able to play in the United States for the first time in the club's history," said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.
Wrexham last faced United in an FA Cup tie in 1995. The Red Devils' team will be mainly made up of academy players.
Tedesco: I have nothing to prove to the Germans
Domenico Tedesco does not believe he has anything to prove on his return to Germany with new side Belgium after previously being sacked by RB Leipzig and Schalke.
Leipzig parted company with Tedesco in September 2022, nine months after he took up the position, despite winning the DFB-Pokal in the 2021-22 campaign.
The 37-year-old was also ousted by Schalke in March 2019, a year on from guiding the club to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga.
But ahead of Belgium's friendly with Germany in Cologne on Tuesday, Tedesco insists he is content with what he achieved across his two spells in the country where he grew up.
"I love my job and I am happy with what I have already achieved," he said at Monday's pre-match press conference.
"I always want to win, but I feel I have nothing to prove to the Germans. The coach is not that important, either – the players make the difference."
Germany and Belgium endured disappointing World Cup campaigns, each exiting at the group stage in Qatar despite pre-tournament hopes being high.
Four-time world champions Germany have slipped to 14th in the FIFA rankings – 10 places below Belgium – but that is not a true reflection of their quality in the view of Tedesco.
"How is it possible that they're 14th?" he asked reporters. "At the World Cup in Qatar they had so many chances, they just didn't score enough.
"No one had more expected goals than Germany. Even if Germany were last in the FIFA rankings, that wouldn't change anything. We want to win, even if it's a friendly game.
"Germany have a few new young players, but they are players from top teams. They remain a strong country."
Germany beat Peru 2-0 on Saturday, while Belgium kicked off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win in Sweden on Friday thanks to Romelu Lukaku's hat-trick.
The 29-year-old has 71 goals in 105 senior international appearances, but he has struggled this term for club side Inter, where he is on loan from Chelsea for the campaign.
However, Tedesco says there is more to Lukaku's game than goals alone.
"Don't judge him solely on that," the Italian said. "He is looking in good shape and was proud after scoring his hat-trick – rightly so.
"I want him to be happy. He has the qualities to play for any side, including Inter. He is a good guy and he deserves to be happy when he plays."
Kai Havertz and Nico Schlotterbeck have been ruled out for Germany, while first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has not made the trip for Belgium.
That means a rare chance to shine for Koen Casteels, who is perhaps better known to the home fans having spent made than a decade in the Bundesliga.
"I don't have to show myself in Germany anymore – they know me here," the Wolfsburg goalkeeper said. "Germany is my second home. It's nice to play here.
"I feel a lot of recognition in Germany, maybe more than in Belgium. I am spoken of more positively here; in Belgium less so. I have resigned myself to that.
"I owe a lot to Germany and also have German punctuality picked up, but after my career I'm just going to live in Belgium again."
'It's been unforgettable' – Conte thanks fans after Spurs exit
Antonio Conte thanked Tottenham fans for their "unforgettable" support as he broke his silence following his exit from the club.
Conte left Spurs by mutual consent on Sunday, a week on from a remarkable outburst after a 3-3 draw with bottom side Southampton in which his side squandered a two-goal lead late on.
The Italian labelled his players "selfish" and questioned the club's lack of silverware during Daniel Levy's time as chairman.
That tirade ultimately cost him his job, with assistant Cristian Stellini taking charge until the end of the season as Spurs bid to finish in the Premier League top four for a second straight campaign.
Conte posted on Instagram on Monday, thanking Spurs and their fans while wishing them luck for the future.
"Football is passion," Conte said. "I would like to deeply thank everyone at Spurs who appreciated and shared my passion and my intense way of living football as a coach.
"A special thought to the fans who always showed me support and appreciation, it's been unforgettable to hear them singing my name.
"Our journey together has ended, I wish you all the best for the future."
Spurs' first game in the post-Conte era will be a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on April 3, as they look to cling onto the fourth spot that they currently occupy to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.
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