Juve ‘mean business’ in Europe after splashing transfer cash

JOSE Mourinho has applauded business by Juventus in the transfer market as United prepare to face them in the Champions League.

Juventus have won the Scudetto seven years on the trot but the Italians have not won the European Cup since their penalty shootout triumph over Ajax in 1996.

Marcello Lippi’s side lost successive finals to Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Real Madrid in 1998, while current coach Massimiliano Allegri suffered final losses to Barcelona in 2015 and Real in 2017.

The club’s determination to add a third European Cup was reinforced with the Cristiano Ronaldo coup. The 33-year-old joined from Madrid in July for £88m and Juve have reinforced their squad with the re-signing of Leonardo Bonucci and the arrival of Emre Can on a free from Liverpool.

Mourinho suggested Juventus were only second behind Liverpool for spending in the summer market and promised they would have ‘two very difficult matches’ against United.

“Juventus is one of the teams in Europe who invested to win the Champions League, because they don’t need to invest to win the Scudetto,” Mourinho said.

“The objective is clearly to win the Champions League, and they were close twice when they reached the final.

“They are a top team in Europe that made one of the biggest spending – I think after Liverpool, it must be them.

“Fantastic players, Cristiano and Can and Bonucci, absolutely top but they are going to have two very difficult matches against us.”