Melo calls for Juventus signings

Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo believes the club desperately need some new signings this summer if they are to close the gap on reigning champions and current Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

The Brazil international has been overshadowed by fellow new arrival Diego since the pair arrived in Turin last summer, with Melo sufering the indignity of being handed the infamous 2009 Bidone d'Oro (Golden Bin) award for worst player in Serie A.

But even Diego's form has now dried up and the Bianconeri's hopes of winning a first Scudetto since 2003 lie in tatters, with Juventus currently sitting in fifth place in the table, behind Palermo in the race for Champions League qualification.

And Melo believes that new signings are a necessity at the end of the season if Juventus are to realistically challenge for top honours in 2010-11.

"A team has to start with a good coach and now a coach with experience has arrived and he helps us a lot," Melo told Tuttosport. "Now, for example, we watch the videos of our games, through which Zaccheroni makes us understand the mistakes we have made.

"This doesn't mean to say that Ferrara was a bad coach: I liked him a lot. Anyway, aside from the coach, we need some other strong players who can make the difference, like Diego and Del Piero, because there is a need for five of six players who can make the difference. And hopefully we can win.

"In any case, we will surely do better next season because we won't have the same problems understanding each other."

Melo also believes his own form has picked up of late and admitted he is looking to build on some promising displays.

"I had a physical problem. The leg hurt me a lot, so throughout Christmas I worked back home in Brazil with some friends from the national team. When I came back to Turin I did not have the pain any more and this allowed me to train more calmly, also psychologically.

"A footballer is like a machine: if there is a problem it won't go forward. And in effect I had some problems, because this summer I practically had no holiday after the Confederations Cup. In fact, I started the season very well, but then I ran out of energy. I needed a little time to recover."