Juventus Coach Andrea Pirlo: "Difficult" for Luis Suarez to Join due to Passport Issues

Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo estimated that it will be "difficult" for Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez to sign for the club due to the necessary timelines to obtain an Italian passport, a condition that is deemed indispensable for the operation to be closed.

"It's difficult, considering the deadlines to have the passport. It's complicated," said the new coach of 'Juve' in a press conference when asked about Suarez, on the eve of the team's league debut against Sampdoria.

After the departure of Argentine Gonzalo Higuain to the US side Inter Miami, Juventus is looking for a replacement, but "the market is long and there is no rush," added Pirlo. The transfer market for new signings ends on October 5.

Roma's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko would be another priority option for Juventus, according to the Italian press.

In order to sign for Juventus, Luis Suarez would need to have an Italian passport to avoid being considered a non-EU player. The club has reached its quota of non-EU players after the arrivals of Brazilian Arthur and American Weston McKennie.

To obtain that Italian passport, Suarez was in Perugia on Thursday to take an Italian language exam.

Juventus starts a season in which it aspires to a tenth consecutive Serie A title, although winning the Champions League will remain the main obsession of the Piedmontese team. AFP