Juventus Champions League final news: Cardiff, Mbappé, Cuadrado
As Juventus get ready to take on Real Madrid in Cardiff on 3 June, we bring you a daily look at the Old Lady's preparations for the showpiece event.
Champions League final: tight security in Cardiff
In the wake of the attack in Manchester on Monday night the UK has raised its terror threat alert to “critical”, the highest level that exists and one not used since the London bombings in 2007. As such, security around the Millennium Stadium for the Champions League final is to be unprecedented for a sporting event in Britain. Both team buses will be escorted by a helicopter and a facial recognition system is to be deployed in public transport hubs and in the areas around the stadium. The game will be played under a closed roof to prevent attacks using drones while traffic on the River Taff will be stopped for the day and bike use restricted.
Juve want to snap up Mbappé
The Monaco striker is coveted by half of Europe but, realistically, only a handful of clubs have the financial clout to tempt the Ligue 1 side to the negotiating table. Juve showed last season in signing Gonzalo Higuaín that they are not afraid to pull out the cheque book and reports this week suggest the Old Lady will try and land the young striker with the club willing to pay up to 100 million euros.
Vinovo return ahead of Bologna game
Juve’s players returned to training on Wednesday after a couple of days off to celebrate the club’s record sixth consecutive Scudetto with the match against Bologna on Saturday to bring down the curtain on their Serie A season. Then attention will turn to the Champions League final in Cardiff.
Cuadrado squares off permanent deal
Colombia international Juan Cuadrado, on loan at the Juventus Stadium from Chelsea, has made his stay in Turin permanent after signing a three-year deal with Juve for a transfer fee of 20 million euros.