03 January 2017
New Juventus midfielder Tomas Rincon described his Bianconeri move as a dream come true as he was unveiled at a press conference at Juventus Stadium on Tuesday.
“This is a dream come true,” began the Venezuelan, who joins from Genoa. “I want to thank Juventus for the confidence they’ve shown in me. Everything happened very quickly but when I heard the club’s name there was no doubt in my mind – they play to win here and that’s what I work for every day.
“I’m trying to adapt as quickly as possible because the league resumes in a few days. I’m going to put everything into this – it’s an honour to be here and I’ll be happy to help wherever the team needs me. I’ll give 100%, work hard and concentrate on winning.”
First impressions as a Bianconero
“It’s been a fantastic start – everyone has been very welcoming. We’ve just been getting back into it after the holidays but over the past few days we’ve done some tests and personalised training. I’ve already been able to see that Juve is a proper family – there are lots of fantastic players here and the captain is the best goalkeeper in the world.
“Everyone has gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable. There are lots of South Americans here and I knew [Stefano] Sturaro and [Rolando] Mandragora from my time at Genoa, so I’m sure it won’t be difficult to get settled in.”
Why number 28?
“I’ve always liked the No.8 shirt, but obviously that one belongs to [Claudio] Marchisio here, so I went for the No.28 because that’s my current age. I know I’m going to be 29 soon, but I like the number anyway so decided to take it.”
Emphasis on endeavour
“I’m here to help, wherever the team needs me. It’s not up to me to decide where I play, but I’ll work hard every day to make sure I’m fit. I’ll give 100% and try to help out my team-mates every time I get onto the pitch. I’m humble enough to keep trying to improve and learn every day.
“You should never think you know everything and have reached the top – you have to put everything you have into playing, just like anything else in life. Everyone here is a top player so my job is to work hard for the club, the coaching staff and my team-mates.”
Rincon's route to Juventus
“I’ve been around the block but I’ve always had a dream – an objective. I spent five years in Germany, where I really grew both as a person and as a player. It was a drastic change for a young lad coming straight from South America and I had to learn a lot.
“When I came to Italy I had a fantastic coach in [Gian Piero] Gasperini – he really helped me to improve so I’ll always be thankful to him. Genoa was a very important part of my career. It was the perfect place for me to achieve consistency. I’ve worked very hard to get to where I am now.”
A big day for Venezuelan football
“I think it’s fantastic for my country that I’ve joined Juventus. Football is growing in Venezuela and the fact that a Venezuelan is playing for such a massive club as Juventus could really open doors for my compatriots. This is an important moment for Venezuela and I’m very happy to represent my country here. I want all the kids in my country to know that nothing is impossible, that dreams can become objectives. I hope Juventus have another 30 million fans from now on!”
Leadership skills to show for
“Everyone has a leader inside of them – all you have to do is find it and bring it out. I focus on making sure I’m training hard – players need to grow as people too because that’s always crucial. I’m the captain of my country and part of the responsibility is helping young players and making sure you’re well-prepared.”
Origins of 'El General' nickname
“I started getting called it by journalists and team-mates when I was in Germany. I’ve kept the nickname since then – I like it so I’m happy it’s stuck.”
Tasting victory over the champions
“When we faced Juve at the Marassi they were coming off the back of a very demanding match away at Sevilla in the Champions League. When you play against the Bianconeri – the best team in Italy – you’re always extremely motivated. We got off to a great start and were 2-0 up after just a few minutes.”
