Aaron Ramsey to Juventus: Arsenal midfielder will aim to make his own mark in Turin just like Wales legend John Charles did

Aaron Ramsey to Juventus: Arsenal midfielder will aim to make his own mark in Turin just like Wales legend John Charles did
Football fans had their collective minds blown when Aaron Ramseys reportedpaypacket was revealed following his decision to leave Arsenal and sign for Juventus.Many Brits players have tried and failed to cut it abroad.Gareth Bale has won multiple trophies in Spain,whileJadon Sancho has become an England international at Borussia Dortmund.However, none have come as close to the almost mythical statusJohn Charlesenjoys atJuventus.4

John Charles became a hero to Juventus fans

Born 40-odd miles down the road from Caerphilly-nativeRamsey, albeit59yearsearlier, Swansea lad Charles was revered both at home and in Italy where he was idolised by the Juve faithful.This week marks 15 years since his death at the age of 72. Without doubt, Charlesis the greatestBrit to play abroad.He is a person who interpreted the spirit of Juventus in the best possible manner and he represented the sport in the best and purest manner, said an emotional RobertoBettega, himself a Juve hero, following the death of the man known as Il Gigante Buono the Gentle Giant in 2004.It was an appropriate name, with the big man going his entire career without picking up a red or yellow card.4

Charles’ form at Leeds earned him a move to Italy and the west stand at Elland Road was renamed in his honour

Charles first came to the wider publics attention in 1948 when he moved to Leeds from Swansea Town, as the club was known then, at the age of 17. A year later the 6ft 2in Welshman, who represented his country 38 times in total, had established himself as a dominant centre-half.However, he reached new levels when he was moved from centre-back to centre-forward in the 1952/53 season and goals flowed for the Yorkshire side.Charles 29 strikes in 42 games in the 1955/56 campaign powered Leeds to promotion to the old Division One and in the top flight, his prowess in front ofgoaldid not wane as he scored 38 times in 40 matches.4

Charles died in 2004 and there was a great outpouring of grief, especially in Wales, Leeds and Turin

He was such a colossus that the west stand of the clubs Elland Road stadium was later named in his honour. After all, it wasCharles65,000 move to Juventus in 1957 that helped pay for the rebuilding of the west stand after it was razed to the ground in a fire.“He was quick, he was strong, he could run with the ball. He was half the team in himself. He was tremendous, Jack Charlton said of his former Leeds team-mate.When Juvesigned him, the Italian side hadnt won the league for six years, but he top-scored with 28 goals to helpthembecome champions again and Italian footballs new goal-getter was crowned Player of the Year.He won three titles in four Serie A seasons and there has never been a shortage of big names lining up to praise the Wales internationalfrom Danny Blanchflower and Billy Wright to Alessandro Del Piero. I received this news with great sorrow, both as a player and as a Juventus fan, Del Piero said upon learning of his death.Every time that he came to visit our team, he showed us great affection and had a contagious cheerfulness,he added.It is even claimed that,had Charles been fit forWales1958 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Brazil, Jimmy Murphys team could have gone all the way, having been key to his nations run to the last eight.By 1962, the goals that had made Charles so popular began to dry up and he was transferred back to Leeds, returning to the club that made him with three Serie Awinnersmedals and two Italian Cups.4

John Charles moved from centre-back to centre-forward at Leeds with devastating success

A further stint in Italy followedwhen he joined Roma that same year. He played 10 times in the Italian capital, scoring four goals, then moved to Cardiff in 1963 before finishing up as player/manager at Hereford United and Merthyr Tydfil in 1974.Ramsey joins Juventus in the middle of a period of domination for the club, but if he makeshalf the impact his late compatriot did, hell be happy.Charles was named Juves greatest foreign signing in 1997 and later Serie As greatest import. Yep, Diego Maradona, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane were allleftin his gentle shadow.

Il Gigante Buono

John CharlesBorn: 27 December, 1931Dies: 21 February, 2004At Juventus105 goals in 181 gamesSerie A titles x3Coppa Italia x2Serie A top scorer 1957/58Third place at 1959 Ballon d’Or

---

Shop Overstock.com and find the best online deals on everything for your home. We work every day to bring you discounts on new products across our entire store. Whether you're looking for memorable gifts or everyday essentials, you can buy them here for less.
~ Manchester United manager latest: Eric - fp-news.com

---

Tottenham progressed to the semi-finals by beating fierce North London rivals Arsenal 2-0 at Emirates last month, having also beaten fellow sides from the capital in previous rounds, Watford and
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview: Probable Lineups

---

Atletico Madrid want to replace Antoine Griezmann with Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, according to reports. Atletico announced on Tuesday evening that Griezmann would be leaving this summer
EPL: Arsenal star in shocking move to Atletico Madrid to

---

Lionel Messi's fifth-place finish in this year's Ballon d'Or vote was absurd, his FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said of the Spanish champions' Argentina forward on Tuesday. Real Madrid's Croatia midfielder Luka Modric took the prize Monday in Paris after winning the UEFA Champions
Lionel Messi deserved more than fifth in Ballon d'Or

---

One rival fan actually urged Liverpool to sign Depay, because his performance was that bad: "Liverpool please sign Memphis, this man is s****." In his new book Heart of a Lion, Depay partially blamed Van Gaal for his failings at Old Trafford. "It was very frustrating I didn't reach my usual level," he said.
Liverpool monitor Man United flop Memphis Depay as Sadio Mane

---

live on talkSPORT We're all set for a huge night of action in Europe and talkSPORT will be bringing you exclusive coverage from the Nou Camp Tottenham travel to Barcelona on Tuesday night looking to secure qualification for the Champions League last 16.

---

Retirement bites us all at some point, but for Jonathan Walters, it is "heartbreaking". The former Republic of Ireland forward announced his retirement on Friday, an Achilles injury literally
Jonathan Walters: Burnley and Republic of Ireland forward

---

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo charged with misconduct by FA after running on to the pitch to celebrate last-gasp winner against Leicester. Nuno said he was overcome with emotion at Diogo Jota's
Khabib Nurmagomedov's trainer says he could have finished

---

The former Swansea striker currently plies his trade in Saudi Arabia. You'll probably remember Bafétimbi Gomis from his time as a Swansea striker. You'll also be able to recall his trademark goal celebration, where he'd crawl on all fours, pretending to be a panther.
Bafetimbi Gomis Scares The Living Daylights Out Of Ballboy

---

Arsenal 'set to complete first summer signing' as Unai Emery starts overhaul. The Gunners are expecting to have a busy summer and it looks like they will soon welcome their first new face through
Transfer news: Arsenal hero tells Unai Emery to spend £45m

---

The deal sees Arsenal join the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Ajax and Juventus in the list of clubs who have adidas as their kit manufacturer. Leaked images of the new Juventus shirt - which was the first of the adidas range to be seen may have given Arsenal fans an idea of the sort of design to expect from the new partnership.
New Arsenal 2019/20 adidas kits: Leaked images of new home

---

Football Manager 2019 is out now. But who are the highest 45 starlets available at affordable prices (below £6.5million) you can sign in the game under the age of 20 on July 1, 2018 in the game? Thankfully the folks over at the excellent FMScout.com have figured out the best bargain wonderkids around. So which starlets should you be signing?
Football Manager 2019: Wonderkids you must sign - video

---

Thousands of Celtic fans paid their final respects to legendary captain, Billy McNeill today. Mourners packed into St Aloysius Church in Garnethill as the McNeill family, supported by ex managers
Billy McNeill funeral - road closures as Glasgow to pay

---

GRINNERS 'N LOSERS Rio Ferdinand: Man Utd vs Chelsea final was most intense game of my career… I expect Liverpool to deal with it best and win Champions League
Liverpool are 'playing with a handbrake' on in the big games

---