Juventus confident of keeping duo

Juventus insist Alessandro del Piero and Pavel Nedved plan to stay, despite their relegation to Serie B.
The Turin club will start next season with a 30-point deduction as punishment for the match-fixing scandal that has rocked Italian football.

But Juve sporting director Alessio Secco said: "Del Piero has told me he and Nedved will definitely remain."

And Gianluigi Buffon's agent Silvano Martina says the Italy goalkeeper is also staying at the Stadio Delli Alpi.

Martina said: "Gigi is ready to play in Serie B. There was a bid from Roma to take him on loan but Juve did not consider it.

"The club said what any club would have, Buffon is an international and they could sell him for a vast fee, there's no reason to loan him."

Del Piero had already indicated his intention to stay with Juve but Nedved has been linked with a move to Tottenham. Secco has warned Real Madrid they will have to increase their £20.5m offer if they wish to sign Juventus trio Fabio Cannavaro, Emerson and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Europe's top clubs have been eyeing fire-sale bargains at Juventus and the other two clubs wrapped up in the scandal, Lazio and Fiorentina, who were also relegated.

Secco added: "We will meet with them again in the next few days to continue to negotiate.

"We are willing to sell players as long as we receive adequate offers."

Juve are hoping to see their punishment reduced and have appealed against last Friday's verdict to the Federal Court.