Zhegrova reveals why he stayed at Juventus as Ravanelli hails his ‘incredible quality’
Edon Zhegrova has explained his decision to remain at Juventus despite a summer of uncertainty, and found a vocal supporter in former striker Fabrizio Ravanelli.
Speaking to SportMediaset after Kosovo’s goalless draw with Israel, the winger was clear about where his future lies.
“I love this club and I want to achieve something big,” Zhegrova said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb. “When they signed me I was really happy, I didn’t want to leave in this way. I wanted to stay and now I want to do great things.”
He described his position as a privilege. “I’m really happy to be here, it’s a big club and I can only be pleased with my teammates, the club, the coach and the whole team. I’ll give the best of myself every time I step onto the pitch.”
Ravanelli: ‘I’ve always been in love with Zhegrova’
Not everything has gone his way as Zhegrova was omitted from Juventus’ Europa League list, a decision he accepted without complaint.
“A choice of Spalletti’s. I’ll do my best, I respect every decision. We have a great team, we play to win.” Asked whether Juventus are better than Inter, he smiled: “I don’t want to talk about this, but Juventus is always better.”
The exclusion is harder to square with his contribution since. Zhegrova scored twice off the bench at Sassuolo, twice hauling Juventus level before Vasilije Adzic settled it in stoppage time.
Ravanelli, speaking on Tuttosport’s YouTube podcast, via TMW, argued the player needs handling differently.
“I’ve always been in love with Zhegrova. I’ve found myself discussing his use with Spalletti many times. I know the coach well and I know he’s a bit of a hammer with his lads, in a positive sense. But this is a player who at certain moments should be left calmer. He has incredible quality and a strength that should make everyone forgive him when, now and then, he makes mistakes or doesn’t apply himself defensively.”
He also defended the risks Zhegrova takes on the ball.
“If Zhegrova loses several balls it’s because he constantly risks the play. He wants to be decisive. In Serie A I see so many players who receive the ball and play it backwards. I could play at 58 like that.”
