23 March 2016
With Friday’s friendly match fast approaching, today was a day of meeting and greeting for the Juventus Legends in Shanghai as the team gained a flavour for the footballing passion of the locals all while exploring the best of what the Chinese city has to offer.
Beginning with a brisk workout and stretching session in the gym, Wednesday’s first appointment would arrive shortly after breakfast with a press conference alongside the Shanghai Luvfans Network Technology Co. Ltd. and partner FD Ventures for the unveiling of the Juventus Chinese Digital Fans Community.
Thanks to the online initiative - which hosts all of the country’s major social media networks from Sina Weibo to Tencent, Wechat, mobile apps and Baidu Post Bar - Chinese Juventini will now be able to keep abreast of all the goings-on in the Juventus universe and stay as close as possible to the heart of their favourite team from the other side of the world.
The organisers of Friday’s fixture, Shanghai Luvfans Network Technology Co. Ltd. specialises in bringing not only the Juventus experience to its Asian fanbase but also in providing a digital platform on which the team’s supporters can share their black and white passion and take part in a series of specially-organised, exclusive fan events.
From there, the Legends would take Day 2 out onto the streets and more specifically the city’s spectacular waterfront for a riverside stroll and, of course, an unofficial kickabout with club mascot J. That would be just the beginning of J’s afternoon, however, whose later appearance in the city centre would cause quite the furore, with fans doing their utmost to grab a selfie with every Bianconero’s favourite zebra.
After lunch it was the turn once again of the Legends to whip up the pre-match excitement, sitting down for a festive meet and greet with ten international Juventus Members, ten lucky winners of the Juvestoreasia.com competition and guests of the tour’s sponsors.
Beginning with a word-perfect rendition of Storia di un Grande Amore and concluding with a mass autograph session of match jerseys, photos and memorabilia, the event was made truly memorable by the special reception of the fans present, unsurprising given the electric support given to the team throughout last summer’s Super Cup triumph over Lazio.
Shortly afterwards and as a way of working up an appetite ahead of the team dinner, David Trezeguet and Gianluca Pessotto, captain and coach of the Legends line-up, would round off the day’s activities with a visit to the city’s Trussardi store (Shanghai New World Daimaru), the club's Official Formal Suit Partner.
Trezeguet and co are set to swap suits for boots tomorrow, however, beginning their big match preparations in earnest with their first training session on Chinese soil. As with the previous two days, Juventus.com will be on the scene to capture every moment of the action. Stay tuned!
