Giuseppe Marotta has denied speculation that Juventus will look to make a quick profit on Fernando Llorente when the transfer window reopens.
The Spanish international joined the Italian champions on a Bosman free transfer during the summer, when his contract at Athletic Bilbao expired. At the time it was considered one of the deals of the pre-season, yet he has made a slow start to life in Serie A which has led to suggestions the Bianconeri could look to cash in on him in January.
However, there have been signs of late that Llorente is beginning to settle in Turin, and he found the back of the net in successive UEFA Champions League matches against Real Madrid. And Marotta has used this opportunity to rubbish reports he could sell the 28-year-old in the winter, by insisting there is more to come from the striker.
“The player is not for sale, he has never been for sale, and he remains with us,” the Juve general director told Tuttosport. “There is great confidence in the boy, he is reaching top condition. We are very happy with him and with his progress.”
Llorente, who was part of the Spain squad which won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championships two years later, has made six league appearances for the Old Lady, of which five have been starts. He has so far scored just one goal in his sides’ defence of the Scudetto, which earned three points against Verona in September.
