Juventus deny Llorente exit claims

Juventus have dismissed speculation that new signing Fernando Llorente could be moved on before the transfer window closes.

The 28-year-old Spanish international is being paired with a possible loan switch to Barcelona, just a matter of months after leaving Athletic Bilbao on a Bosman.

“We believe in Llorente,” Old Lady director general Beppe Marotta is quoted as saying in Thursday’s Tuttosport. “We have no intention of selling him.”

Llorente’s future has been placed into doubt by some given that he hasn’t started in Juventus’ first two official games of the season.

Boss Antonio Conte preferred a strike partnership of Mirko Vucinic and Carlos Tevez in the wins over Lazio and Sampdoria in the Italian Super Cup and Serie A respectively.