Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta insists the club cannot sign Inter striker Mauro Icardi this summer, insisting reports suggesting such are "fantasy football". Juve have been linked with a move for the mercurial Argentina international, with several outlets suggesting that Gonzalo Higuain could move the other way. Marotta, though, says such talk is nonsense, and has scotched any suggesting that Inter have entered into negotiations with Icardi, who scored 29 goals in 34 Serie A appearances this season. “Juventus players are considered unsellable, up until the moment they ask to be sold," he told reporters. "In the case of Higuain, even if he’s at the World Cup, we’ve received no such request. “Icardi is a suggestion. Obviously we’re talking about an excellent player, one who belongs to Inter, and then there are these news reports that we’ve approached him. “All that falls into the realms of fantasy, fantasy football.” Juve have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Mattia Perin this summer, and are also hopeful of completing the acquisition of Emre Can from Liverpool on a free transfer. “We’re optimistic on Emre Can,” Marotta confirmed. “We can say that the contact with his representatives has started and are going well. We hope we can reach a conclusion in 10 days.” Juve won a seventh straight Scudetto in 2017-18, finishing four points ahead of second-placed Napoli.

Giorgio Chiellini has said he will not be making the Champions League his top priority as he embarks on his first season as captain of Juventus. The 33-year-old defender has been a key player during Juve's domestic dominance over the last decade, playing in all of their seven consecutive title-winning seasons, but he has yet to taste glory in Europe. Juventus have not triumphed in Europe's top club competition since 1996 - losing five finals in the years following that victory - and Chiellini was asked whether mounting a Champions League campaign would be a primary concern in 2018-19. "No," he told Football Italia. "We will aim to win everything as always. "Now, we have the chance to relax with peace and calmness. Then it will be a great year just like the last ones, I am sure about that." Chiellini reflected on the departure of former Juventus captains and said he aims to leave a legacy as glittering as that of his predecessor, Gianluigi Buffon. "I am even older, it's true. I will miss them and it's normal that it's like that," he said. "We hope to leave behind good things for our team-mates, who can then continue when we are not there anymore."

Juventus have announced the signing of Italy international Mattia Perin from Genoa for a fee of €12 million, rising to a possible €15m (£13.2m). The 25-year-old goalkeeper, who started for Italy in Monday's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, has signed a four-year contract at Juventus Stadium, where veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon departed at the end of the 2017-18 season. Perin broke through at Genoa in 2013 after loans spells at Padova and Pescara and played for the club 150 times, but he has opted to join Massimiliano Allegri's title-winning team as they hunt for an eighth consecutive Scudetto in 2018-19. The deal will see Juventus pay €12m over a three-year period, with an additional €3m payable if certain contractual conditions are met during that time. Perin will compete with Wojciech Szczesny to be Juventus' first-choice goalkeeper, a challenge he is looking forward to. "I have a lot of enthusiasm, I come here on tip-toes with the utmost humility and a lot to learn, but hope I can give the team a helping hand and contribute to the cause when called upon," he told the official Juventus website. "The club showed strong interest and when they contacted my agent, I couldn't help but say yes. These are chances that pass by only once in life and I couldn't say no to Juventus."

Paulo Dybala wants a reunion with Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba at Juventus. France international Pogba arrived at United from Juve for an initial €105 million in 2016 but has struggled for consistency in the Premier League. The 25-year-old was dropped by Jose Mourinho in 2017-18 as reports of a strained relationship between the pair surfaced, leading to links with a return to the Serie A champions. Dybala inherited the Bianconeri's number 10 jersey from Pogba and is keen to link up with his former team-mate again. "Hearing that he is maybe coming back, I'm very happy, even more with the relationship I have with him. Now we could stop making video calls and we would go back to training together," the Argentina star told TyC Sports. "I felt very good on the pitch with him. There was a lot of feeling between us, and we also get on very well off the field. "We always created new greetings, new ways to celebrate a goal, like when we touched our fingers after watching Dragon Ball Z." Dybala could take on Pogba at the World Cup in Russia, as Argentina and France are tipped as contenders to go all the way in the tournament.

Juventus have confirmed the permanent signing of Douglas Costa, who will join the Turin club from Bayern Munich for a fee of €40 million (£35m/$47m).  Costa, 27, moved to Juve in 2017 on loan after falling out with the Bayern board and then-coach Carlo Ancelotti over a reduction in playing time.  The Brazil international racked up 47 appearances in all competitions, helping the Old Lady to a seventh consecutive Serie A title and the Coppa Italia while also playing a key role in their trip to the Champions League semi-finals.  And that impressive debut season has been rewarded as the Italian giants chose to exercise the purchase option in the initial loan deal agreed with Die Roten.  "Juventus have exercised the option right for the permanent purchase of the player Douglas Costa from Bayern Munchen for a fee of €40m to be paid in two financial years," Juventus revealed on Thursday in a statement.  "The consideration may increase €1m upon the fulfilment of certain conditions over the course of the duration of his contract". Costa is currently preparing with the Brazil national team ahead of this month's World Cup.  The Selecao finalise preparations for the finals with a friendly against Austria scheduled for June 10, before opening their campaign against Switzerland a week later in Rostov.