Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the club, accompanied by the return of Moise Kean, confirms Juventus’s new strategy: fewer flashy signings and more investments in young people with great potential, both due to economic imperatives and sports betting.
After a start to the season disturbed by the departure of the Portuguese star for Manchester United, Juventus have before them some very difficult games in September, in which they will evaluate their short-term prospects.
On Saturday he visits Napoli in the 3rd round of Serie A and then he will host AC Milan on the fourth round of the championship, on September 19. In between, ‘Juve’ have their debut in their Champions League group on Tuesday next week in Sweden against Malmö.
In the first two days of the Italian league 2021-2022, Juventus scored a point and the alarms have already been triggered.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the great scorer for Juventus. He only got more than a third of the team’s goals in Serie A in the three seasons he wore as a ‘bianconero’ (81 goals of the 223 that the Turin team achieved between 2018 and 2021). But above all it was a global brand, taking the team jersey to an even more international dimension.
To replace CR7, Juventus did not sign another superstar. He opted for Moise Kean (21 years old), from his Piedmont region (he grew up in Asti, about thirty miles from Turin) and who wore the colors of Paris Saint-Germain.
– Less wage bill –
Juventus’ decision is part of the current economic context.
Juventus, burdened by the financial burden that Cristiano Ronaldo represented in its budget (almost 90 million euros -106 million dollars- per season, between salary and amortization of the transfer), has seen its losses increase, also affected by the crisis caused for the coronavirus pandemic.
Lightening the wage bill was therefore a priority and this explains the little resistance that Juventus planted before the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Economically, the strategy is now oriented to put the accent on young talents, without giving up the objective of regaining the European title, the obsession of the team in recent years.
Juventus began to think about this ‘Operation Rejuvenation’ already in August 2020, after the elimination in the second round of the Champions League against Lyon.
President Andrea Agnelli stated this publicly after the second leg: “I have heard it decided several times that we have one of the oldest squads in Europe, that can be an element of reflection.”
Since then, in addition to Cristiano Ronaldo (36 years old), several thirty-somethings (Gonzalo Higuaín, Blaise Matuidi, Miralem Pjanic) and four-year-old Gianluigi Buffon have left the entity.
– “Generate value” –
Almost all of the newcomers have been young people of 25 years or less, from Dejan Kulusevski to Manuel Locatelli, passing through Moise Kean, Arthur Melo, Weston McKennie or Federico Chiesa.
Beyond those players, Juventus is also thinking about the future with hires such as that of Brazilian Jorge Koaio (19 years old), U-17 world champion in 2019.
An exception has been Álvaro Morata (28 years old), who returned last year. The Spanish player is still on loan from Atlético de Madrid and Juventus has not exercised the purchase option for the moment.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who wanted to incorporate one or two experienced players (the return of Pjanic or the signing of Mauro Icardi, according to the press), affirmed that he is aligned with the club’s leaders in this commitment to the youngest.
During his presentation in July, Allegri noted that his role was to “get results” but also to “create value” with player development.
Time will tell if Juventus’ strategy is the right one or needs to be rethought. AFP (HN)