5 players Juventus could have signed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo

Juventus were dealt a massive blow when they lost the services of legendary Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2021. A player in the mold of the Portuguese superstar is impossible to find and with his consistent goal returns, Ronaldo is virtually a unicorn in the game. He has scored consistently throughout his career and a guaranteed goal scorer of his caliber will be missed at any club.

There is now a massive goal and leadership gap in Turin following Ronaldo’s departure. The Portuguese forward broke the record for the fastest player to reach 100 goals for the club. He scored an impressive 101 goals in just 131 appearances for the Old Lady of Turin.

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The absence of these goals has seen Juventus drop back down shockingly in the Serie A standings. The Turin-based club have gone from guaranteed winners to a team struggling to qualify for the Champions League since his departure. The regrettable slump could’ve been avoided with smart acquisitions.

However, the goals and influence could’ve been adequately replaced by the Serie A giants. Despite Ronaldo being a once in a lifetime player, here are five talented stars who could've mimicked his involvement in Turin:

#5 Moise Kean | Everton (on loan at Juve)

He is a bit of a misnomer as he does currently play for Juventus. However, he is only here on loan. Juventus' timing with signing, selling and loaning him is why his name is on this list.

The young star played for the Old Lady before making the switch to Everton. The Bianconeri could certainly have considered buying him back permanently to cover Cristiano Ronaldo’s open slot.

Kean previously joined the Old Lady from Torino, where he became the club’s big potential star. However, the young Italian wonderkid didn’t have a set spot in the starting lineup. He ended up going on loan to other Italian clubs before getting sold to Everton in 2019.

Although Moise Kean played more games for the Toffees than he did for the Bianconeri, his goalscoring stalled in England as well. Everton eventually loaned him to PSG where he flourished last season, scoring 13 goals in 26 Ligue 1 games.

Juventus did quickly snatch him up on loan again this season, and he has scored two goals in his last four starts for the club. Kean continues to make mainly substitute appearances for the Italian giants, which hasn’t been ideal for him to shine.

He needs to be given the identity to be the main forward and he has the potential to be great for Juventus.

#4 Timo Werner | Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg

With Romelu Lukaku leaving Inter Milan for Chelsea last summer, many expected Timo Werner taking the back seat for the Belgian international. Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has certainly felt the same way, with Werner starting just six Premier League games this season. His return of one goal in those six starts hardly portrays the figure of a confident, clinical striker that he once was at RB Leipzig.

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During his time in Germany, Werner flourished, scoring 28 goals in just 34 games for Red Bull Leipzig. Chelsea were quick to trigger his release clause, but his debut season saw the German star fall below expectations. With Werner set to compete for a slot in the first team while struggling to build his confidence, a change of location might have done the trick.

Juventus need someone who can run the channels for them and has the speed to get behind the defence. Werner's game would have been ideal for that.

#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Arsenal

Perhaps already past his prime, the Gabonese striker has struggled to find his goalscoring form in the last two seasons at Arsenal. Currently, Aubameyang might be set to leave the Emirates Stadium where manager Mikel Arteta stripped the captain's armband from the star. Aubameyang scored over 20 Premier League goals in the 2019-20 but the star managed just 10 last season.

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There’s no telling if Aubameyang’s fortunes may have improved in Turin. But having scored just four goals in 14 league games this season, a change of location might have helped.

The former Dortmund star is popular for his pace and clinical ability in front of goal. Despite being 32, Juventus may have found themselves another star forward. His massive wages might have been a stumbling block to a Bianconeri move, but it certainly would’ve been easier to afford, compared to Ronaldo’s wages.

His game is built around pace and that would have helped Juventus deploy a variety of tactics in attack.

#2 Dusan Vlahovic | Fiorentina

The 21-year-old Serbian star forward could sign for Arsenal in January. However, Dusan Vlahovic could have started this season with the Bianconeri in Turin. Juventus could have gunned for the young Vlahovic who picked up 21 Serie A goals last season, only a little behind from Ronaldo’s 29 league goals.

Vlahovic has continued to flourish for Fiorentina, scoring an astonishing 16 goals in just 20 league games this season. Defensive woes have stalled Fiorentina, keeping them outside continental qualification spots in eighth place. Vlahovic’s goals make up nearly half of the club’s total goals in the league, setting him a class apart from his teammates.

#1 Mauro Icardi | PSG

Sevilla v Paris Saint-Germain - Pre-Season Friendly

Yet another clinical striker who might need a change of environment, Mauro Icardi could’ve been a key purchase for Juventus. With PSG bringing in Lionel Messi and boasting of an attacking trident that includes Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Icardi’s limited game time is hardly a surprise.

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Reports currently place Icardi in the Bianconeri’s crosshairs but the striker’s transfer would be coming six months too late. Icardi has already spent six seasons with Inter Milan and understands Serie A’s style of play. With over two sub-par seasons in Paris, a return to the league where he once netted 29 goals in just 34 games may come in handy.

Edited by Diptanil