Touring Italian giants Juventus have announced a 25-man squad that will travel to Australia for the International Champions Cup this month.
The Bianconeri start the competition against Melbourne Victory and will also face Tottenham Hotspur at the MCG in Melbourne, on the 23rd and 26th of July respectively.
The reigning champions of Italy will be without many key players that recently took part in Euro 2016. Star figures that will not make the trip include Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra, Sami Khedira, Stephen Lichtsteiner, Mario Mandzukic, Paul Pogba, Stefano Sturaro and Simone Zaza. Ex-Barcelona defender Dani Alves also misses the trip over to Melbourne due to his presence at the Copa America with Brazil.
However, Australians will get the chance to witness other new signings, Medhi Benatia and Miralem Pjanic’s first outings in a Juventus shirt after their move to the five-time reigning Serie A champions. The 25-man squad is built up largely of youngsters from the Bianconeri‘s youth team, due to many of those who appeared recently at International tournaments for their respective nations being owed their rest. Midfielder Claudio Marchisio is unavailable for the trip down under due to a long term injury to his knee suffered during the course of 2015-16.
Juve are scheduled to arrive in Melbourne late tonight, where they will touch down to begin preparation for a sixth consecutive Serie A title and UEFA Champions League honours in 2016-17.
Juventus squad for the International Champions Cup:
Goalkeepers: Emil Audero, Mattia Del Favero, Leonardo Loria, Neto
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Medhi Benatia, Carlos Blanco, Luca Coccolo, Pol Lirola, Giulio Parodi, Daniele Rugani, Yoan Severin
Midfielders: Kwadwo Asamoah, Hernanes, Grigoris Kastanos, Mario Lemina, Roman Macek, Luca Marrone, Roberto Pereyra, Miralem Pjanic, Mattia Vitale
Forwards: Alberto Cerri, Paulo Dybala, Stefano Padovan, Lorenzo Rosseti
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