Sami Khedira has been given the all-clear to return to training with Juventus following a heart problem, the club announced on Thursday. Last month, Khedira withdrew from the squad for Juve's Champions League last-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid following the detection of an irregular heartbeat. The Germany international was expected to be unavailable for around a month and Juve have now confirmed he has been cleared to resume full training and high-intensity physical activity. "Sami Khedira, who underwent an electrophysiological study and an ablation of his atrial arrhythmogenic system on February 20, has passed cardiology tests and can resume normal and intense sporting activity," a brief statement read. The update will come as a relief for the German, as an irregular heartbeat can often lead to issues such as dizziness, shortness of breath and tiredness. However, both Khedira and Juventus will be pleased to hear the that he is fit to start training again. It has been a start-stop season for the 31-year-old, who has been ruled out with muscular problems, an ankle injury and the recent heart concerns. As a result, Khedira has made just 15 appearances for the Italian champions this campaign. Without him, Juve have been in indifferent form over the past number of weeks. The Old Lady did manage to turn over Atletico in last week’s Champions League clash, but instantly lost their first match of the Serie A season against Genoa. Max Allegri’s men are also out of the Coppa Italia having suffered a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in January, a game in which Khedira featured. The midfielder is enjoying his fourth season at the Juventus Stadium and he has made 124 appearances in that time, and netted 21 goals. Khedira joined Juve from Real Madrid in 2015 and also previously played for Bundesliga side Stuttgart. It is unclear whether he will be fit for the Old Lady’s next game against Empoli on March 30, but his experience could prove vital in the coming weeks as they prepare for their quarter-final Champions League clash against Ajax.

Cristiano Ronaldo has avoided a Champions League suspension after UEFA announced his punishment for his celebration in the aftermath of Juventus' win over Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in the second leg of Juve's last-16 clash with the Rojiblancos, and celebrated by mocking Diego Simeone's own celebration from the first leg when the Atleti boss intended to illustrate the 'cojones' his team had shown in their own 2-0 victory. UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Ronaldo on Monday for the gesture, and have decided a €20,000 is punishment enough for the Portugal international. That is in line with Simeone's own punishment, with the Argentine fined the same amount by the European governing body ahead of the clash in Turin. Ronaldo, therefore, will be free to face Ajax in the quarter-finals of the competition as he continues his quest to win a fourth straight Champions League title and a sixth overall. The former Real Madrid superstar had struggled to make an impact in Europe for the Bianconeri ahead of his Atletico heroics, scoring just one goal in the group stages having been sent-off against Valencia on matchday one. But in netting a treble to knock out Simeone's side, he looks to be finding form at the ideal time ahead of the latter stages of the competition. Since arriving in Italy the 34-year-old has scored 24 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions, with Massimiliano Allegri's side 15 points clear at the top of the Serie A table and set to win an eighth straight Scudetto. But it is the Champions League for which Ronaldo was bought during the summer of 2018, and he is unlikely to take Ajax for granted having seen the Eredivisie outfit knock out his former Madrid team-mates in the last-16. Erik ten Hag's side pulled off the surprise result of the round as they won 4-1 at Santiago Bernabeu to win 5-3 on aggregate over the 13-time winners.

Former Manchester United full-back Fabio da Silva has praised Cristiano Ronaldo for helping him and brother Rafael settle in at Old Trafford, stating that the Juventus star in very unselfish in nature. The Brazilian pair joined the Red Devils in 2008 and spent six years together at the club, with Rafa staying an additional season before swapping the Premier League for Ligue 1 football with Lyon in 2015. Fabio also plies his trade in France these days with Nantes, having spent time with Cardiff and Middlesbrough in between. At 28 years old, the pair are well travelled these days, but their initial integration in Europe could have been very different if it had not been for a certain Portuguese attacker. “Some people were incredibly kind to us, like Darren Fletcher,” Fabio told ESPN. “He helped us a lot and we're still friends. “Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano, who spoke Portuguese, were also a big help – we didn't know a single word of English. “I've heard Cristiano called selfish, but he gave us non-stop advice both on and off the pitch. “When I made my debut against Tottenham, I played alongside him. Cristiano told me not to take any risks in our half because he might not be able to get back to help me. “Then he said, 'When you get into the opponents' half, you can do whatever you like'. With Cristiano supporting me, I felt so positive.” Fabio went on to talk about another Brazilian who was in the ranks at the time, Anderson, who he cites as a great person and friend, although noted that his offers of support were a tad more questionable than those of Ronaldo. “Anderson was another great friend. Cristiano and Fletch were older and more serious, Anderson was my age,” he said. “We'd go to a Brazilian restaurant with Anderson and he offered to teach us English for free, which was nice of him, but his own English was not the best! He did teach us lots of swear words in English though! “Everyone loved Anderson, he has the biggest heart. Even now, we have a group chat of former players and Anderson is in there, still writing in English and still using words that only he understands!”

Claudio Marchisio wants to see Juventus star Paulo Dybala played further forward, suggesting that Massimiliano Allegri isn't getting the most out of the Argentine. The 25-year-old contributed 22 goals and five assists in 33 Serie A appearances for the Bianconeri last season, helping the club secure a fourth consecutive Italian double. However, the 2018-19 campaign has been a different story for Dybala, who has been forced to play in a deeper role to accommodate Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese striker arrived from Real Madrid last summer and since then he has taken over as Juve's focal point going forward, scoring 24 goals in 36 games in all competitions. Marchisio, who played for Juventus for 25 years in total before moving to Zenit Saint Petersburg back in September, says it is a "shame" to see his old team-mate having to play further away from goal. He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Paulo has an innate gift, it's a shame to see him playing so far from the goal. "I remember his first match with Juventus; Super Cup v Lazio, he came in and I said 'stay in the opponent's area', and he scored goals." Dybala has once again been an essential cog in Allegri's starting XI this term, but his overall record of nine goals in 35 appearances across all competitions represents a modest return when compared to his exploits the previous season. Juventus are on course to win another double come May, with the Serie A title all but wrapped up and a quarter-final Champions League tie against Ajax to look forward to in April. Marchisio went on to admit that he regrets how his time in Turin ultimately ended, revealing his original desire was to remain with the club for at least one more year. "August 17, the adventure came to an end, but the market was closing and I thought I would stay," he added. "The club decided to terminate the contract, for me it wasn't easy. With hindsight we could say there have been so many injuries in midfield, maybe I would have had room [to play]. But it would have been wrong to stay, I would not have managed another year like the last one. I was hoping for some more opportunities, but I always put the group in front of the individual. "I gave so much but Juventus also gave me so much. I've no regrets. In football, as in life and in love, there are so many ways to end stories. In the end, I consider myself lucky for what I had. I lost two Champions League finals but I'm happy to have won seven Scudettos." Marchisio also revealed he rejected two offers from AC Milan during his career, while he was full of praise for Ronaldo and the impact he's had in Turin. "I have twice rejected offers from Milan," he added. "So many offers have always arrived, both from abroad and from Italy. For me, the most important team in Italy, besides Juve, has always been Milan. But I would never have gone to another Italian club. "He [Ronaldo] works a lot, he takes care of every aspect of preparation. He is an example. He has an atypical physique for a soccer player, he looks more like a sprinter!" Juventus return to Serie A action after the international break, with a home clash against Empoli to negotiate on March 30 before a trip to Cagliari three days later. 

Alvaro Morata defended Diego Simeone from criticism following Atletico Madrid's Champions League elimination and thanked him for restoring his own confidence.  Atletico looked to be in with a great chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Juventus 2-0 at home in the first leg of their last-16 tie last month.  But a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick inspired Juve's second-leg turnaround, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory to dump Atletico out.  Simeone was criticised for a pragmatic approach in the second leg, as Atletico offered precious little in attack, but Morata believes flak is harsh on the coach, who has helped restore his own belief after a difficult period at Chelsea.  When asked if he is now happy at Atletico, Morata – who is away on Spain duty – told reporters: "Yes, especially at Atletico, but it would be more so if the last week had been better.  "We have been knocked out of the Champions League, but life goes on. Everyone knows what it means [to Simeone]. He is Atletico. A defeat in the Champions League or in the league is not [a reason] to criticise.  "I am where I wanted to be for a long time, I thank Simeone and the coaches for their confidence, because thanks to them I am finding my level.  "It's clear that I needed confidence [after leaving Chelsea], I came from bad times, but I do not have to consider the past." Morata has scored three goals in eight total appearances for Atletico since joining from Chelsea in January.