After all the transfer market drama throughout the course of the summer. Juventus’s focus will now be on the pitch. The Italian champions have conquered Serie A 5 consecutive times and they don’t show any signs of relinquishing their domestic dominance. Their priority this year will be quite clearly be the UEFA Champions League, a trophy that has eluded them several times in their history but they have the squad to challenge on all fronts.
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There’ve been a lot of ins and outs at the Turin club. Paul Pogba has just departed for a world record transfer fee, and Real Madrid exercised their buy-back clause for Alvaro Morata some time back. In these two, Juve have lost two young jewels that they really had no intention of letting go. But it speaks volume about how much of a brilliantly run club Juve are that they’ve not only recovered, but strengthened their squad even more for the upcoming season.
Though Massimiliano Allegri, their decorated manager, has a variety of formations at his disposal we take a look at what his strongest 11 should be for a campaign in which they will be one of the favourites for the Champions League,
Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon
There can’t possibly be any doubt over this, can there? Buffon is a physical marvel, still one of the best keepers in the world at 38 years of age. His status as the best goalkeeper of all time only gains more credibility year on year, as he continues his marvellous journey for what is now a staggering career.
Buffon broke the Serie A record for the most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal in the league and had an impeccable Euros as well. One trophy that has eluded the 2006 World Cup winner is the Champions League, and he’s immensely keen on getting his hands on the much-coveted prize. Could this finally be the year?
Defenders
Giorgio Chiellini
The 31-year-old Pisa native showed that he has plenty of life left in him yet, at the European Championships. Chiellini sometimes has his moments of recklessness but on the whole has been a massive asset for Juventus over the years. He wouldn’t have amassed 401 appearances for the Turin club otherwise, since his transfer from Fiorentina 11 years ago.
Chiellini has had injury issues in recent times, but should put that behind him in the coming season. When he’s out, Juve easily switch to 4 at the back, or Patrice Evra could take up his position on the left of a back 3.
Leonardo Bonucci
Fans who have followed Bonucci’s career know that his ascent has been apparent for a while now and he garnered great acclaim at the Euros, his pass for Giaccherini’s goal, especially, has been played on the highlight reels everywhere.
The Italian’s passing abilities have been on show in Turin for years, though, and he’s only been getting better at pinging passes across the pitch. Guardiola was keen on luring him to City, but the Bianconeri had no intention of letting him go, even in the face of monstrous offers. Resolute in his tackling, and thoroughly intelligent in his defensive positioning, Bonucci is in his peak and will be marshalling the Juve defence with great confidence.
Mehdi Benatia
It might seem odd to leave out Andrea Barzagli, but at 35 years of age, Juve should look towards the future and start to integrate Mehdi Benatia in their starting 11. Benatia already knows Serie A inside out, and was one of the best players of the division in his tenure at Roma. The Moroccan should settle in with ease.
He’s useful in the opposition box as well and has already banged in a couple of goals in pre-season. At 29, he has a few good years left in him at the very least.
Wing-Backs
Alex Sandro
Alex Sandro raised quite a few eyebrows when Juve paid Porto €26 million for his services. It was said to be too much money for a fullback, and many believed that Porto were jacking up the prices for their players as usual.
But Dani Alves, is another player who came under the same criticism when Barcelona paid Sevilla a princely amount for his services, and Alex Sandro could go on to have the same impact at Juventus.
Sandro is excellent going forward, and the chances he created in Serie A were by far the most by any defender in the division. His crossing is superb, and his defending doesn’t leave much to be desired either. Expect big things from him this season.
Dani Alves
What is there to say about Dani Alves that hasn’t already been said? The Brazilian will always be remembered as the player who changed how the full-back role was interpreted and the sight of him bombing down the right flank, looking to get on the end of Messi and Xavi’s passes will always be embedded in Barca fans’ memories.
It’s clear that he still has a lot to contribute and he’s been working hard in pre-season to ensure he’s in top shape for the new season.
With the quality of Miralem Pjanic and Claudio Marchisio in midfield, he’ll have plenty of service to embark on his lung bursting runs.
Midfielders
Miralem Pjanic
The Bosnian has been one of the best midfielders in Serie A in recent times, and signing him for less than a third of the fee Juve have received for Pogba is one of the masterstrokes of the transfer market.
Pjanic is brilliant at free kicks, has a gorgeous eye for a pass and is a sublime sight in midfield. He registered the same number of assists as Pogba did in the last Serie A season, and scored a goal more than the Frenchman.
Only 26, Pjanic has the attributes to play well into his 30’s and Juve could be the club at which he could finally achieve his fantastic potential.
Claudio Marchisio
Claudio Marchisio has similarities to Bastian Schweinsteiger in a certain sense, they are both versatile midfielders who found their best positions in the center of midfield later in their careers.
Marchisio has taken on the central midfield playmaker role after Andrea Pirlo’s departure and quickly became the heartbeat of Juventus and Italy. The Italian national team missed him and Marco Verratti thoroughly in the European Championships even though they performed brilliantly without them.
News only recently filtered through that Marchisio could make a comeback from his injury in October, and the entire club will be delighted with that news. Even considering the quality in the middle of the park for Juve, Marchisio’s range of qualities make him a unique and irreplaceable player.
Sami Khedira
Khedira is another of the players that reflect Juve’s brilliant work in the market. Signed on a free transfer, like Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba, Khedira has settled in Serie A almost seamlessly. It was immediately apparent how much Germany missed the 29-year-old dynamo when his tournament ended due to injury and he’s equally important to Juve.
Khedira chipped in with 5 Serie A goals as well last year and often takes up good positions in attack. There’s no doubting that he’s one of the best in the world at his position.
Forwards
Gonzalo Higuain
36 goals in 35 Serie A games. That’s all that needs to be said really in response to claims that the money paid for Gonzalo Higuain is excessive. Perhaps it still is, but the fact is that Juve have become an economic powerhouse who can afford to spend that kind of money now.
Keep in mind that some of the other best forwards in the world like Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero would absolutely not be available and Higuain was the most attainable and best center forward in the market.
Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala is one of the most exciting talents in world football today, and Barcelona have already had an approach rejected early in the transfer market. Dybala has the skill, finesse, and flair to be a future Balon D’or winner and already has 32 goals in his last 68 Serie A appearances along with a bucketload of assists.
Juve had to fight off a whole host of clubs to sign him, and pay Palermo a very generous fee, but considering the money clubs are paying out for young talent it could well turn out to be a bargain.
Here is Juve’s Best 11 for the new season then :
