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The Goon Thread

Let go by Arsenal, scouted by Giorgio Chiellini's brother - and now celebrating Juventus' Serie A title with a Cristiano Ronaldo selfie. A lot has changed in a year for Stephy Mavididi.

When Aaron Ramsey joins the Italian giants this summer, he will not be the only former Gunner in their ranks.

The Welshman will join 20-year-old striker Mavididi, who last month became the first Englishman since David Platt in 1992 to play for the Old Lady.

It's an incredible rise for the Derby-born player, who never made a senior Arsenal appearance and was playing on loan at League One Charlton last season.

Mavididi tells BBC Sport about his decision to play abroad, training with Juventus' star-studded squad, and also how he dealt with the death of his father just days after Juventus sealed a record eighth consecutive league title.

'How could I turn down Juventus?'
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Mavididi training with former Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
"It was a week filled of mixed emotions," says Mavididi, when discussing a monumental seven days last August.

The England Under-20 international turned professional with Arsenal in 2015, but failed to progress beyond the Gunners' youth and reserve teams and had two loan spells at Charlton and one at Preston North End.

"Last summer I came back to Arsenal for pre-season and was told it would be difficult for me to play in the first team," he says.

"My time at Arsenal was done. I had been there for eight years, but then Juventus came calling and I was on cloud nine again - it was an amazing feeling.

"I was speaking to the scout who told me he had been watching me for a while, telling me games I played in three years ago - I couldn't even remember them, but he liked what he saw."

By going abroad, Mavididi was following a now well trodden path for young English talent, with former Arsenal team-mates Reiss Nelson (on loan at Hoffenheim) and Chuba Akpom (PAOK), and Jadon Sancho, who left Emirates Marketing Project for Dortmund, all making a name for themselves on the continent.

Mavididi added: "When Juventus came calling, how could I turn it down? I didn't think twice about it. I liked the project. I thought I can only improve, it is now down to me to kick on, train with these players and learn as much as I can. It was a massive opportunity and I am happy I have taken it."

It had been Juventus captain Chiellini's brother Claudio, the club's under-23 team co-ordinator, who bought Mavididi to the club, initially as a reserve player.

But he was soon training with the first team.

"I remember that first training session like it was yesterday," says Mavididi. "The first time I saw Ronaldo."

'Be quick or Chiellini and Bonucci will smash straight through you'
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Mavididi training with Bonucci
Mavididi says he has learned the biggest lessons from playing against legendary Italy and Juventus defenders Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.

"You have a split second to execute what you want to do, if not then Chiellini and Bonucci will come smashing straight through you," he says.

"You have not got any time. I have learned to think quickly and do things quicker."

Beyond the formidable defence, there are the Juventus playmakers and attackers like Paulo Dybala and Miralem Pjanic.

"With their quality, if you make a run you are bound to get the ball," he adds.

And then there is five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who joined the club from Real Madrid a month before Mavididi for £99.2m.

"The way he goes about his business was incredible for me to watch," Mavididi says. "How he applies himself every day in the gym and on the pitch. How he looks after his body, his diet - mainly off-the-pitch stuff. Everyone knows what he can do on the pitch, but off the pitch is what keeps him going."

And Ronaldo is one of the players with whom Mavididi has struck up a friendship.

"It is a really close-knit group, everyone is cool and there is good vibes, good banter," he says.

"I get on with most of them, Uncle Blaise [Matuidi] and obviously Ronaldo. He tries to give English banter but it is not that good - he is a good guy, very down to earth.

"Moise Kean is a good friend of mine and I get on with [Emre] Can and [former Arsenal team-mate] Wojciech Szczesny.

"The club make you feel really involved - it is a credit to everyone in the dressing room."

'From highest of highs to lowest of lows'
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Mavididi with Ronaldo after Juventus' Serie A triumph
Mavididi scored six goals in 32 games for the Juve U23 team in Serie C, Italy's third tier.

He was called up by then manager Massimiliano Allegri to the first team bench twice before finally making his debut in a 2-1 defeat by SPAL on 13 April, when he appeared as a second-half substitute.

"I remember before the match, I was the last one out of the changing room and Allegri said 'are you ready?' and I said 'of course I am ready'," he continues.

"I was itching to come on. Then in the 69th minute I entered the pitch and made by debut. It was a day I will never forget.

"For Allegri to put me on gave me a big confidence boost and showed that he had faith in me."

Juventus' loss that day meant they had to wait to confirm another title, but that came the following week when they beat Fiorentina. Mavididi was an unused substitute that day - but he took full part in the changing room celebrations.

I coached Stephy Mavididi when he was an Under 11 at Southend. Hardly played any games for us as he was usually in the year group above for matches but remember him playing with our squad in a one-off match v West Ham and he was the star player. Really nice kid from a nice family - had very high hopes for him but he always wanted to go and play for Woolwich.

"It was a weekend I will never forget and something I will treasure," he says. "Everyone was happy, celebrating. I even pranked Ronaldo.

"But that weekend was a one of mixed emotions. Afterwards I found out my dad had passed away. I went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

"I think my father watched my debut. It is important. That was one of his nice last memories of me.

"The club were great with me, they said to take as long as I needed. I went to London for two weeks with my family and missed two games, but we gave dad a good send off and that is the most important thing."

Mavididi did not receive a title winner's medal because he had not played enough games, but in his first season in Italy he was able to achieve his first target.

He added: "When I joined I wanted to make my debut this year and I have reached that target. So now I want more."

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Mavididi and the Juventus squad celebrating the title in the changing room
 
The great great thing about the slippery slope those clams are on is that we're on the upward escalator looking over revelling in the demise.... realistically it's a massive coincidence the two things are happening at the same time.

It didn't have to be this way. But it is :D
 
This is now the 3rd season in which they've failed to qualify for the champions league. Since 2014 they are the only one of the top 6 to miss out for 3 consecutive seasons.

During that period all the others, except City, have had at least one season out of the CL but it rarely seems to have affected their ability to attract high-quality players (Man U - Pogba; Woolwich - Aubameyang) or to keep their best ones (Chelsea - Hazard). In fact being in the CL seems to have little consequence as Liverpool lost Coutinho, Sterling and Suarez having qualified for CL.

However, this is now 3 seasons away for Woolwich. Lacazette and Aubameyang must surely have higher aspirations than Europa League but will depend how content they are on their current salary. Will probably depend whether they can get obtain a higher wage at one of the elite clubs - PSG, Bayern, Juve, Atheltico, Barca or RM (or City).

It should be a major advantage for us to be the only london based side in the champions league with the capability of buying players.

Woolwich will have to shop in a different market now and you'd say they desperately need reinforcements in defence and central midfield. Since Koscielney in 2010 they really haven't signed any outstanding defenders - Mertersecker was ok and Sokratis has been a reasonable stop gap but Mustafi and Gabriel were both signed as potential first choice CB's but have been awful and Callum Chambers has not yet lived up to his potential - perhaps Rob Holding will come of age? Since this time we have bought Vertonghen, Alderweireld and Sanchez - all of whom would walk into the Woolwich defence. Koscielney is now 33 so they probably need 2 new CB's. They will have to shop cleverly and hope that they dont face competition from Liverpool, City or us (and possibly Man U too).
 
Crack me up Robbie........can't even bring himself to say the word. Liverpool Emirates Marketing Project Chelsea Man u Leicester Wolves Everton......

And the 'get the cheque book out' mantra :)


 
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"I attend every match, therefore I'm entitled to be as big a clam as I like. fudge rationality."

Brilliant.

A part of me wishes I were Stan Kroenke, so I could slowly, remorselessly torture them with ever bricker players, until they settle around 16th in the league forever.

In answer to the question "Where was Stan Kroenke" here is a multiple choice:

A) Sitting at home, utterly crestfallen because the club he loves has lost the Europa League Final
B) Convening an emergency meeting of his entire business team to cope with DT's next banner
C) Liquidating all of his assets in an effort to appease Troopz's demands for investment in new players
D) Counting his money, having forgotten he owns an English football club
 
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