Juan David Cabal was presented today as the new player of the Juventus. Below is his speech at the press conference, reported by Bianconeranews.it.
How did these first days of yours in black and white go?
“I’m really happy to be here, for me it’s truly a dream to have arrived at one of the biggest teams in the world. I’m working really hard to be able to become an important player like Chiellini, Bonucci or Cannavaro were.”
With your characteristics, what do you think you can offer?
“I want to bring to Juve all my talent and who I am as a person both on and off the pitch. I will try to do everything I can for this team and I will try to improve on all fronts.”
What kind of player are you? Do you have any reference points in Juve in the past?
“If I had to use just one word it would be resilience, I fought so hard for this dream of mine and many saw that I had the Juve shirt since I was little. I have several references, like Cuadrado, Cristiano or Alex Sandro, players who have remained in history”.
Your willingness to come to Juve was fundamental in allowing the Bianconeri to overcome Inter. How did the crucial phase of the negotiation go?
“My family also dreamed of my arrival at Juve, I don’t want to talk about Inter because I know that they are also a great team but my dream was Juve”.
You are the second Colombian in the history of Juventus after Cuadrado, who then moved to Inter, have you heard?
“There are several Colombian players who have inspired me because I have also been lucky enough to share the field with several of them. Zapata, for example, helped me a lot in my growth path. Cuadrado told me that I had made the right decision because there are no teams like Juve”.
What impressions did Thiago Motta make on you?
“He told me first of all to enjoy it and continue to be myself, but to work to try to become a better player. He was a great player and I’m sure he will teach me a lot.”
Do you prefer to play full-back or on the wing?
“Among the players I admired as a child there is Marcelo, the Brazilian full-back, but over the years I have followed many to learn from them. I don’t make any differences in the defensive role, I like them both”.
Baroni said about you: “I would like him to believe in himself as much as I believe in him”. After signing with Juve, has your self-esteem improved?
“I’ve always had self-esteem, because if you don’t believe in yourself, others certainly can’t. Of course, I grew up a lot in Italy and now I know Serie A football well”
On Tuesday you played at the Allianz Stadium, what emotions did you feel?
“When I enter the locker room I am still very excited and happy about what I am experiencing and how everyone has welcomed me, my intention is to give the same back.”
Yours is a beautiful story, even a little unbelievable. Looking to the future, on a human level, what qualities do you think you need to have to not suffer from vertigo?
“You need mental strength, which is an important aspect in football, you need to grow as a footballer but also as a person.”
A review of your 2024, what does it mean for Juventus also from a national perspective?
“Having arrived at Juve is the best thing that could have happened to me, sometimes I even cry for the immense joy of being here.”
In your opinion, who are the leaders in today’s Juve group?
“In the locker room the leaders are known, but on the pitch we are all leaders because we are all going towards the same goal and we work to achieve it.”