Former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli insists he is ‘firmly convinced of the good work’ he did in Turin as he opens up on why he resigned following 13 years at the club – after the board were accused of false accounting
Former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has issued a defiant statement declaring he is ‘firmly convinced of the good work’ he did in charge – despite UEFA investigating the club on false accounting and market manipulation charges.
Juve’s entire board resigned en masse in November amid the charges, with the public prosecutor’s office launching a probe into the club over player value inflation and wage irregularities.
But at his last shareholders’ meeting in Turin on Tuesday, the 47-year-old insisted he is proud of the work he carried out despite the ongoing crisis, and opened up on why he stepped down from the Italian giants.
Former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli insisted he is proud of the work he did at the club
He said: ‘Leaving the presidency was not an easy decision for me. In addition to loving Juve, I have worked hard to achieve the extraordinary results of recent years, on and off the pitch.
‘I took this decision in full serenity, I remain firmly convinced of the good work of all these years, an opinion confirmed also in recent weeks by the analysis of numerous experts: Juventus will demonstrate its legitimacy in every avenue.
‘I thought it appropriate to take a step back, to avoid that one could even think that the choices and decisions that will be made from now on were conditioned by my personal involvement.
Agnelli and the entire Juve board of directors resigned en masse in November amid a UEFA investigation on false accounting and market manipulation charges, which is ongoing
‘It was an honour to be President of Juventus, which comes before everything and everyone. Fino Alla Fine (everything will be alright in the end).’
UEFA also opened an investigation into potential breaches of the Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations just days after the mass exodus from Turin.
Juve announced a whole new board of directors on Boxing Day, with Gianluca Ferrero named club president.
Agnelli was one the driving forces behind the European Super League, but has stepped down
Manager Massimiliano Allegri may be fearful for his job when a new president is appointed
The crisis threatens to engulf the club, with one director admitting the gravity of the situation at the Allianz Stadium.
Stefano Bertola was reportedly caught via wire-tapping in July telling club chief Federico Cherubini the situation was similar to the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal – only this time it was wholly of their own doing.
He said: ‘The situation is really delicate. In 15 years I make only one comparison: Calciopoli. There was the whole world pulling at us, but we created this for ourselves.’
