Champions League: Beware Of Drogba —Juventus Warned

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci believes Didier Drogba is still one of the best strikers in the world as the Bianconeri prepare to face Galatasaray on Wednesday.

The champions of Italy and Turkey do battle with both teams looking to bounce back from disappointing results in their opening European encounters, with Juve drawing away to Copenhagen and Gala thrashed by Real Madrid.

“Drogba is certainly one of the best strikers in the world and has gone to Galatasaray after his experience in China, with the desire to keep surprising,” said Bonucci. “He inspired Chelsea to Champions League glory and tomorrow we’ll be up against a motivated striker who will want to do well. We should watch out for this Ivorian player because he could be dangerous”

The 26-year old Italy international also identified improving on last year’s quarterfinal defeat to Bayern Munich as a key target for the Turin outfit this season.

“We’ll need to give everything we have in this match, because we have only one objective which is to win, you are almost forced to do that here at Juventus,” he said. “Going further than we did in last year’s Champions League is one of our aims for the season. Therefore we’ll be out to claim all three points Wednesday night.”

Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini will be armed with more than £30million to spend in the transfer market and the new Galatasaray boss is already plotting to swoop for players from the Barclays Premier League.

Mancini has ambitious plans and has been given assurances by Gala president Unal Aysal that will have the power to identify his own targets.

The Italian wants to start recruiting in January and this is certain to include an attempt to lure at least one player he knows well away from Manchester City. He has also been promised the club will supply him with at least one ‘world-class’ signing.

Muzzi Ozcan, the agent who brokered Galatasaray’s move for Mancini, told Sportsmail: “Mancini has the full backing of the Galatasaray directors in the transfer policy. If I get instructions from Galatasaray then I will bring them a world class player.”

Mancini was confirmed in his new £5m-a-year role on Monday with former Blackburn midfielder Tugay set to be named as his assistant and their first task will be to lift morale.

The champions of Turkey languish 10th of 18 in the Super Lig with only seven points from five games. They are eight points adrift of leaders and great rivals Fenerbahce.