Juventus interested in rescuing Heinze from Old Trafford
bench
Daniel Taylor and Louise Taylor
Wednesday January 10, 2007
The Guardian
Juventus have become the first club to declare an interest in
Gabriel Heinze, the Manchester United left-back who has lost his
first-team place this season to Patrice Evra.
The Italian club's admiration of Heinze was revealed by their head
coach, Didier Deschamps, in an interview last night with the French
radio station RMC Info. Deschamps is hoping to lead Juventus, who
are one point behind the Serie B leaders Rimini, back to the
Italian top flight at the first attempt following their demotion
last year for match-fixing. He is monitoring Heinze's availability,
aware that United have offered £5m for the Southampton left-back
Gareth Bale.
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"I saw Gabriel play in France during his time there, so I know him
really well," said Deschamps. "He plays left-back at Manchester
United, but I don't think it's the position where he can make the
most of his abilities. He is better as a central defender. United
have several left-backs so if they put Heinze up for sale, and we
have the possibility to buy him, I don't see any reason why we
can't do just that."
Heinze moved from Paris St-Germain to Old Trafford in 2004 and won
their player of the year award in his first season. However, he has
not regained his best form since rupturing cruciate knee ligaments
in September 2005, an injury that kept him out for almost all of
last season.
He recovered in time to play for Argentina in the World Cup but was
not fit enough to start the Premiership season and, though Sir Alex
Ferguson remains an admirer, there is a feeling at the club that he
is not the same player as before.
That belief is clearly not shared by Deschamps, and it is thought
there is also interest from the German and French leagues. "He's an
outstanding player, a leader and a winner, and on top of that he
has a European passport which makes him even more attractive,"
Deschamps added.
The Football Association is still awaiting replies from Everton's
Tim Howard and Joleon Lescott regarding allegations that they were
racially abused by Newcastle United's Emre during a recent
Premiership game at Goodison Park. If Soho Square officials, who
were alerted to a potential problem between Emre and two of
Everton's black players when Dermot Gallagher mentioned the
allegations in his report, have still heard nothing by this evening
the ruling body's investigation into the matter will be closed.
Although Howard is understood to have originally raised the subject
with Gallagher, it is thought that neither he or Lescott wants to
pursue things any further.
Newcastle United are negotiating to take Lassana Diarra on loan
from Chelsea until the end of the season. The French midfielder,
21, has struggled to break into Jose Mourinho's first XI but is
admired by Glenn Roeder and has a friend at St James' Park in his
compatriot Charles N'Zogbia.
Meanwhile Roeder's interest in signing Darren Bent from Charlton
has cooled. Newcastle's manager - who hopes to recruit a new
defender this week - was disappointed to learn that a knee injury
is likely to sideline Bent until the end of February and is almost
certain to abandon plans for a £12m bid. Newcastle may still try to
buy the striker in the summer.