Trez magnifique but Balotelli below par

RESULTS Sun Nov 8:Bari1-0LivornoBologna3-1PalermoCagliari2-0SampdoriaGenoa4-2SienaInternazionale1-1RomaLazio1-2MilanParma2-0ChievoUdinese0-1FiorentinaSat Nov 7:Atalanta2-5Juventus Catania0-0 Napoli

David Trezeguet was all set to pack up and leave Juventus at the end of the season and head back across the border to Monaco, where he had started his European career.

The billionaire haven may be calling, but the striker may well have second thoughts after scoring his 167th goal for Juve on Saturday evening - to move equal-fourth in the clubâÂÂs all-time goalscoring charts alongside the great Omar Sivori.

Lapping up the good life in the south of France is all very well, but the veteranâÂÂs goal at Atalanta certainly had special significance for the player.

Although born in France, Trezeguet spent his formative years in Argentina and his well aware of the awe in which Sivori is held in his home country.

In fact, the Trez-Alex Del Piero partnership at its height drew comparisons with Juve's late-'50s, early-'60s pairing of Sivori and John Charles.

Sivori fell out with the 'Iron Sergeant' Heriberto Herrera and left the club under a cloud, and it has seemed that the same fate would befall his contemporary equivalent.

Last season, Claudio Ranieri banished Trezeguet to the bench - and on a few occasions the stands - to add further ignominy for the frontman in the wake of being cast aside by Raymond Domenech at international level.

No olive branches have been extended since â and the player was quick to savour revenge when the spotlight fell up on him.

Ranieri is gone and if he sticks around under Ciro Ferrara, Trezeguet is within sight of Roberto Bettega (178 Juve goals) and Giampiero Boniperti (182) in the pantheon of the clubâÂÂs all-time greats. (He won't catch Del Piero, who's miles clear at the top having bagged 262 in his 16-year Juve career).

While certain coaches and commentators have never warmed to Trezeguet's style outside the opposition penalty-area, his record where it counts cannot be denied and he is well worth his place amongst the best of modern goalpoachers.

He is now JuveâÂÂs top goalscorer for the season â on six goals â and suddenly itâÂÂs all looking Trez magnifique.

Still, there was probably cup of good cheer lifted to his old nemesis Ranieri after Roma held Inter to a draw on Sunday evening.

Going into the international break, the champions have had their lead cut at the top to five points â but considering the quality of play on show everyone will be happy for a rest from the rigours of club football.

There was little to excite anyone watching two teams that have produced some of the most thrilling encounters in recent seasons.

With Francesco Totti in the stands, the Romans were hamstrung by their lack of depth, while the NerazzurriâÂÂs tired legs were paying for their European exploits.

On top of that, Mario Balotelli produced another non-performance that begs the question, what is all the fuss about?

While the likes of Trezeguet and Filippo Inzaghi still have the fire in their stomachs as they reach their twilight years, the younger generation are not shining brightly.

Balotelli may take to the pitch conveying star-quality arrogance, but scratch the surface and what is exposed is a normal, confused teenager who is in real need of some guidance.

If he's not getting it at his club or from those around him in Milan, maybe he should make a phone call to an old head down the road in Turin.

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