Juventus ‘belong in Champions League’ and Boga enjoying ‘dream’ start

Jeremie Boga ‘could not have dreamed of a better start’ at Juventus and hopes to make the move permanent, while Manuel Locatelli insists they ‘belong in the Champions League.’

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It was a tough match in Bergamo, as Atalanta dominated the first half and pinned Juve back into their own half for long periods.

However, it was only one goal that sealed it, when Boga was ready to fire in the loose ball with the aid of a deflection off Marco Carnesecchi.

Boga has been a great January signing for Juve, scoring four goals in nine Serie A games since the loan from Olympique Marseille, and he was on target here against one of his former clubs.

Juventus flying towards top four

“In all honesty, I could not have dreamed of a better start here,” Boga told Sky Sport Italia.

“It was a tough game, we played really well, fought hard, and these are three very important points.”

Director Giorgio Chiellini hinted before kick-off that the plan was to activate Juve’s option to buy Boga outright from Marseille for €4.8m plus bonuses.

“It is my objective to stay here with these great players, so I will give 100 per cent in every game and hope that I will remain,” noted the forward.

This result means Juventus move to within three points of Milan in third place, temporarily leapfrogging Como ahead of their match with Inter on Sunday evening.

“There are some games over the season that you simply must win, we did it tonight with heart and it wasn’t easy,” Locatelli told Sky Sport Italia.

“We always tell ourselves, pressure mustn’t weigh on us when we are at Juventus, instead it needs to fuel us, because Juventus belong in the Champions League.”

Locatelli also had praise for teammate Boga, who he had already worked with when they were together at Juventus.

“I am so pleased for my brother Jerry, because I always thought he could make it at a big club, and now he is finally proving what he can do.”