Former Juventus player Gianluca Pessotto was in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday after falling from a window at the club's headquarters in Turin.

The 35-year-old former defender, now the club's team manager, suffered multiple fractures and internal bleeding but is in a stable condition, the hospital said.

Pessotto was found clutching a rosary having fallen some 15 metres from a dormer window in the building's roof, police sources said. It is not yet clear what had happened, they said.

"In all probability it was a voluntary move by Pessotto," an investigative source who asked not to be identified told Reuters. A Turin hospital official speaking on Sky Italia television said police are investigating a suicide attempt.

Juventus are at the centre of a match-fixing scandal that has rocked Italian soccer.

Pessotto, who took up the post of team manager last month after 11 years with the team, is not among those facing charges at a sports tribunal due to start on Thursday.

The scandal began last month with the publication of intercepted telephone conversations between former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi and Italian Football Federation officials discussing refereeing appointments during the 2004-05 season.

Pessotto, who made 22 appearances for Italy [Images], was a regular starter during one of the most successful periods in Juventus's history, winning six Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League.

Italy captain and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro walked out of a news conference at the Italian team's World Cup training camp when he heard about Pessotto's fall.

"I'm devastated. Pessotto was the nicest guy in the world," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

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