Football Talk - Juventus give Benitez ten-day ultimatum - 14/04/10
Juventus have given Liverpool manager Rafael BenÍtez 10 days to decide whether he wants to take charge of the Serie A side next season.
The Spaniard remains the favoured candidate of the Italian club's owners to replace Alberto Zaccheroni, according to a report in today's Daily Telegraph. The newspaper claims that reports that Benitez's agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, had met Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc in Milan on Monday were untrue, but sources in Turin insist the Italian club are 90 per cent confident of landing the Liverpool manager.
Though BenÍtez would have to work under a technical director at the Stadio Olimpico, Juventus are believed to be ready to grant the Spaniard the independence he enjoys at Anfield, as well as providing him with an extensive back-room team.
Juventus, who have endured a disappointing campaign, are in danger of missing out on a Champions League spot for next season but, unlike Liverpool, have resolved to strengthen their squad, regardless. The freedom to spend will no doubt appeal to Benitez, who has frequently complained about his transfer budget during his six years in charge at Liverpool.
We have been wheeling and dealing for six years, but if we continue to do that, it will be very difficult to stay at the level everyone is expecting, he said last week.
