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Juventus Defenders
Left-back: Alex Sandro
Juventus' Brazilian full-back, Alex Sandro, will have to fight for the left-back role with the likes of Luca Pellegrini and Gianluca Frabotta knocking on the door.
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Despite losing some of the flair and pace he was renowned for, Sandro has proved to be a consistent performer in Juventus’ backline. The 30-year-old is likely to begin the 2021-22 season as a regular and could be alternated with Luca Pellegrini.
Sandro’s experience and consistency should earn him the nod in most of Juventus’ outings next season, though.
Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt
The Dutch international became one of the game's most expensive teenagers when he made the move to Italy for a reported €85.5 million in the summer of 2019.
Matthijs de Ligt is yet to do full justice to his enormous price tag after a string of poor performances in his first season at the club. However, the 21-year-old fared well at the other end, notching up four goals and as many assists in his maiden season with the Bianconeri.
De Ligt showed an improvement in the latter half of the 2020-21 season.
Despite a tough start to life at the Allianz Stadium, De Ligt remains one of the most exciting prospects in the game. The Dutchman is likely to be a starter in Allegri’s defence next season.
Centre-back: Leonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci further enhanced his stature following a stellar defensive show for Italy at Euro 2020. The central defender was a vital cog in Italy’s memorable European campaign and will undoubtedly be one of the first names in Juventus’ starting XI this season.
Chiellini’s partnership with Leonardo Bonucci at the heart of Juventus’ defence may come to an end this season. That's because Chiellini’s contract with the Bianconeri expired at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, which makes Bonucci the club’s central figure in the defensive third.
As the leader of Juventus’ defence in the upcoming season, Bonucci will have a crucial role to play in the Bianconeri’s resurgence to the top of Italian football.
Right-back: Juan Cuadrado
Juan Cuadrado has made the full-back position his own after a host of impressive performances for Juventus.
The Colombian is one of the best-attacking full-backs in the game, finishing the 2020-21 Serie A campaign with the most assists by a Juventus player. In 40 appearances across all competitions last season, Cuadrado racked up 19 assists along with two goals.
Even though Cuadrado is susceptible in the defensive third, the 33-year-old showed significant improvement last season. The Colombian will most certainly reprise his role as a right-back in Juventus’ XI this season.
