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Juventus' Higuain spurred on by fat jokes

Reuters

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but jibes about my weight will only motivate me.

Juventus summer signing Gonzalo Higuain has heard all the barbs about his plump physique, and insists that they will only galvanize him. After he scored the winner on his Serie A debut, it's hard to argue with the big-money Argentine striker.

"They say I'm fat? It's best if they keep on saying that, then I'll score goals in every game," Higuain told reporters after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Fiorentina.

A club-record signing paired with a noticeably rotund frame first revealed in a preseason win over West Ham has given the Italian press all the fodder they need, and they've responded with criticism of the 28-year-old striker.

Related: Hefty Higuain makes Juventus debut

That assessment doesn't appear to be bothering last season's record-breaking 36-goal scorer.

"Say what you want about my physical appearance but I'm feeling good and I'm delighted with this first goal which decided our first game. I've been in training for 20 days and I know I can improve my shape, but I never had any doubts about myself."

Higuain's 75th-minute winner was the difference on Saturday, as Juventus again appear the front-runners for the Scudetto, and while even Max Allegri has taken note of the Argentine's bountiful frame, the stout striker prefers to focus on what should amount to a decorated tenure with the Old Lady.

"You dream of nights like these," Higuain conceded. "Everybody dreams of being able to do what they want to do and scoring a goal is the maximum, for the whole team and for the fans.

"When you are getting warmed up and you hear the fans there, singing your name; when you feel that the fans support you like this, it gives you even more determination inside. My goal is also for them."

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