After leaving Juventus to join Zenit St. Petersburg last summer, Claudio Marchisio had a deja vu moment in seeing another one-club legend like Daniele De Rossi announce his departure from Roma. Juventus' former number 8, who celebrated the Russian league title just a few weeks ago, revealed a background story on De Rossi in an interview with Tuttosport.
"I admire him very much. Staying at one club for so many years is not easy, many things can happen, both good and bad. When Conte was the coach, Buffon, Chiellini and I were with him in the national team. We tried persuade him to join Juventus, but it didn't work. Sometimes we, the players, do that when the transfer window is open, but most of the times it doesn't work. During Conte's first year at Juventus, I asked Giuseppe Rossi to join us. However, Villareal was in the Champions League and we weren't. Two years later we laughed at the situation".
Marchisio then discussed some transfer market, with the focus being on what Juventus may need to make an extra step forward: "I often talk to Dybala, we are close friends. He knows that he didn't performed well this season, but that can happen to any great player. He is determined to bounce back and I hope they find a way to play him alongside Ronaldo, because he is insanely talented. Him with Icardi? Icardi is a Trezeguet-type of forward, he needs his teammates to play for him, but of course he is an amazing player. An upfront duo with Icardi and Dybala would be perfect, also considering the age of the two". Another dream signing for Juventus would be a familiar face, Marchisio believes: "I was really impressed by De Jong, I would have loved to see him at Juve but he has already made his choice for the future. Looking at Juventus team, I think it lacks a player that can help the team offensively and Pogba would be the ideal player for that. I never understood his decision to return to Manchester, he had already been there. If he wanted to improve, it would have made so much sense for him to move in Spain".
Finally, the Zenit midfielder was asked about his former manager Antonio Conte, who seems very close to taking Inter job: "Seeing him at Inter wouldn't be strange to me, because he is a professional. He could have an incredible impact on the club, he thrives in rebuilding teams".
