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Jermain Defoe ranks among the top scorers in Premier League history.
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During his distinguished playing career, the forward represented England in 57 international matches.
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LISTEN NOW: The Action Has Begun! Can England’s Team Claim Victory at the World Cup?
Jermain Defoe has stated that he nearly joined a team filled with many famous players.
Juventus
group featuring individuals like
Gianluigi Buffon
, Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Del Piero.
The former
Premier League
The forward spent most of his career in England’s premier division, netting an impressive 162 goals.
However, Defoe, most renowned for his stints with
Tottenham
, Portsmouth and
West Ham
has disclosed that his career might have turned out quite different back in 2009.
Before he returned to Spurs from Fratton Park in January of that same year, having earned 57 caps,
England
The forward was notified about the interest from the Italian champions. Having departed White Hart Lane the prior January following almost four years with the team, he had a fruitful period playing down south.
An impressive tally of 18 goals along with five assists across 36 games caught the attention of Juventus’ scouts and team manager.
Claudio Ranieri
According to Defoe, he was informed by his agent that the Old Lady showed interest in including him in their all-star lineup.
I received a phone call sometime around 2008 before returning to Tottenham,” he shared with WhoScored. “My agent called me and mentioned that Juventus was showing interest.
If Tottenham fails to make the cut, would you consider joining Juventus?
Apart from Buffon, Chiellini, and Del Piero, Juventus’ team also featured midfield virtuoso Claudio Marchisio, David Trezeguet, and Ballon d’Or recipient Pavel Nedved.
However, it was the possibility of teaming up with Juventus captain and World Cup victor Del Piero that especially caught Defoe’s attention.
He said, “Think about it. You often dream of playing alongside certain forwards, right? But honestly, he participated in Soccer Aid last year, and it left me awestruck. For a young center-forward who grew up admiring players such as him, he’s truly an icon.”
Over a decade back, Serie A was home to many of the globe’s top talents. Even Juventus, despite having an abundance of star players, couldn’t outshine the ultimate champion, Inter Milan, during the 2008-09 season.
Meanwhile, Defoe made a return to Tottenham Hotspur and stayed with them for an additional five years before transferring to Major League Soccer to join Toronto FC in February 2014.
In the subsequent winter transfer window, he went back to the UK to represent Sunderland, AFC Bournemouth, and Rangers.
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