Juventus game impossible to turn down, say Notts County
- Published
Notts County chief executive Jim Rodwell has defended the club's decision to play Juventus on Thursday - just two days before a League One game.
The Magpies - on whom Juventus modelled their black and white kit - have been invited to play a friendly in Turin, external to mark the opening of Juve's new stadium.
Rodwell told BBC Radio Nottingham, external: "The timing is not absolutely perfect but what do you do?
"This is the chance of a lifetime and we were not going to turn it down."
Notts play the star-studded Italian giants - including Alessandro Del Piero - on Thursday evening but then face Walsall in a League One match on Saturday.
Rodwell added: "Of course we wish it wasn't on a Thursday. It's not perfect but what can you do? We couldn't say 'I'm playing darts on Thursday, I can't make it!'
"But it's been good fun logistically and has given us a different kind of a challenge.
"Juventus have been great, they have been very helpful. A few things have got lost in translation but they all speak much better English than we do Italian.
"For our footballers to play against someone like Del Piero is absolutely wonderful. It puts Notts County on the map.
"It's a celebration and it will be great for the Notts fans to be in with the Juventus fans and our intention is to get Juventus playing here at Meadow Lane next year when we celebrate 150 years."