Inter-mediate Juve

SIX points adrift of fourth place, and only twelve points left to play for. Barring divine intervention, the dream is already over. In fact, we will do well to hold on to a Europa League spot.

The Derby d'Italia was supposed to be the turning point of what has been a woeful season. Then again, every game up until this point was supposed to be a turning point, and instead it's just been one let down after another.

As far as the rumour mill is concerned, it is set to overdrive. In the summer a three-year €200 million project is set to launch in order to regain the Italian championship. Personally I believe it will take much longer than that. I mean just look at Arsenal, how many seasons have they gone now without a trophy? Maybe if they were to give us €50 million for Buffon, they'd finally have a title winning season and we'd have €250 million to clear out the 'dead wood' and build a team with a spine once more...

It is also looking more and more likely that this new project will be spear-headed by Rafa Benitez, with the possibility of bringing Fernando Torres and Xavier Mascherano in tow. Again, I'm not sure that I can really see this happening, as Xabi Alonso was all set to depart the Reds for us last season, before being pushed instead to Real Madrid. Torres has categorically stated that he would never play for The Galacticos after spending so long at rivals Athletico, so let's hope he does not follow suit.

Other rumoured striking options include Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko, and Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini.

Admitedly I do not know much about Edin Dzeko, but after just spending half an hour admiring his goal-scoring exploits in the Bundesliga, I must say I'm becoming a fan. The Bosnian looks deadly both in and outside the box, and he is just the sort of player we are missing. Diego so far has been a flop from the German league, but hopefully Dzeko would be money well spent.

Then there is Pazzini, whom has formed a simply formidable partnership with fantasista Antonio Cassano at Sampdoria, a strikeforce that many believe should be spear-heading Italy's World Cup defence this summer. There is not doubting Pazzini's talent, however I can't help but feel that he may become stage-shy, just as Alberto Gilardino did when he moved as a goal machine from provincial club Parma, to mere shadow of his former self at big-boys AC Milan. At mid-table Fiorentina, he has once again found his feet, so Pazzini would undoubtedly be a gamble.

Yet, should a club as prestigious as Juve be reliant on gambles? We should be able to attract the best players in the world like we used to, with the likes of Michele Platini, Zinedine Zidane and Pavel Nedved proudly adorning the black and white stripes. Is Turin really an attractive a prospect as it used to be though, for the likes of Fernando Torres? One can only hope so...

Making way for these much needed striking options, club Legend Alessandro Del Piero has been offered a lucrative move to the MLS. Previously he would never have considered such a move, however this season's performances have not lived up to the phenomenal form he has shown in the last couple of years, and time is no longer on his side. He has been loyal to Juve for the majority of his career and has firmly established himself in their history.

Del Piero, is Juventus.

However, like Buffon he seems to be considering a departure. Unlike certain players however, I believe that these two would only leave if they believed it would benefit the club...as hard as it would be to see them leave, I believe that they will both find it in their hearts to do what's right...

Fourth place seems an impossible dream, so let's just end the season on a high, and look forward to rebuilding a glorious Juventus once more...

Forza Juve.