Juventus may not pitch for Rafa if they fail in Champions League

London, Apr.15 (ANI): Italian football club Juventus may have second thoughts about roping in Liverpool coach Rafa if they fail to make the Champions League knock-out round.

The Turin giants are insisting that they have met Benitez' representatives and want a definite commitment by the end of next week. The Kop chief's camp is, however, in a state of denial over this development, The Sun reports.

Juventus, sixth in Serie A, last summer used a hefty slice of the 2010-11 season's budget to bring in Brazilian duo Felipe Melo and Diego for a combined amount of nearly 50 million pounds. But that backfired as they failed to have the desired impact and there is growing turmoil at the club.

Bringing in Benitez, plus a couple of his backroom team and top stars, would cost around 100 million pounds, stretching Juventus to breaking point.

That means a place in the Champions League is essential if they are to finance a rebuilding campaign.

Failure to do so would mean the Agnelli family, which owns the club, having to pump in a fortune, which they are unwilling to do. (ANI)