Juventus delay training retreat, but Di Maria feeling optimistic

Juventus are back in Turin and start their training retreat tomorrow, but there is some good news, as it’s reported Angel Di Maria will be out for three weeks at most.

The Bianconeri have been ordered into a retreat at their Continassa ground until this weekend’s Serie A showdown with Torino.

It is both punishment for the squad and an attempt to get them focused after disastrous defeats to Milan and Maccabi Haifa.

The team returned to Turin this afternoon, but the players will be allowed to go home tonight in order to pack and see their families.

They’ll return to the Continassa tomorrow morning for training and remain there until the Derby della Mole.

It is also reported that the training retreat does not involve the injured players, which would seem to be counter to the idea of creating a team mentality.

There is some good news for Juventus, at least, because tomorrow is also when Di Maria will have tests for the muscular strain that he sustained in the first half of the Champions League loss to Maccabi Haifa.

According to TyC Sports in Argentina, initial diagnosis suggests Di Maria will only be out of action for two to three weeks.

That would mean his participation in the World Cup is safe, but he might not want to risk playing again for Juve until the tournament begins.