Domenico Berardi Is the Juventus Player a January Transfer Would Benefit Most

With Monday’s blockbuster announcement that Sebastian Giovinco would be moving to Toronto FC, finding a Juventus player who would benefit from a transfer became an extremely difficult task. The stunning news that the 27-year-old was bound for MLS when his contract with the Bianconeri expires in June removes the player most clearly in need of a new challenge from the equation.

Elsewhere in Massimiliano Allegri’s squad, there is perhaps a case to be argued for Luca Marrone, with playing time seemingly scarce for the Turin native. However, given the injury-ravaged nature of his season thus far—and his versatility—he could yet play a more significant role over the next six months.

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Stretching the question a little further brings us to Domenico Berardi, the 20-year-old winger co-owned by Juventus and current club Sassuolo. He continues to garner attention with his consistently high-level performances for the Neroverdi, but a move to Turin this month could be the making of his career.

At first, that situation is likely to be met with protest. A contrasting opinion being, that seeing out the season with Sassuolo would be best for his development, but there are three underlying reasons behind the suggestion that being called to Juventus now is the ideal scenario for the young star.

Foremost among them is the chance to settle into a Bianconeri side already enjoying a stellar campaign. Already into the knockout stages of the Champions League, enjoying a five-point lead at the top of Serie A and into the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia, the club could not have dreamed of a better start to life under Allegri.

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Should he wait until the summer, perhaps next term does not begin so well and the subsequent pressure could prove too great for Berardi. If Giovinco’s story with Juventus has highlighted any one factor, it is that the grand Old Lady occasionally needs to trust in the young men that she has invested in at the right time.

Secondly, and equally important, is the growing feeling that perhaps Berardi has realised as much of his potential as he can at Sassuolo, and that his best chance to truly blossom would be with the calibre of player found at the reigning champions’ disposal.

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Berardi often cuts a frustrated figure with the Neroverdi, a fact that his disciplinary record clearly indicates. Unlike Marco Verratti, many of whose startling collection of yellow cards come from arguing with match officials, the Sassuolo man’s bookings often stem from him lashing out when his side are struggling.

He must improve in this regard, his record of 17 bookings—as well as two red cards—in one-and-a-half Serie A seasons simply is intolerable if he is to progress at the highest level. In Turin he would be guided by cooler heads, with the professionalism of players like Gigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo providing the leadership and experience not found in Eusebio Di Francesco’s squad.

There is no doubting his quality, the player named 2013 Serie B player of the year has taken to the top flight like few before him. His five goals and an equal number of assists this term have taken his tally to 21 and 12, respectively, in just 44 Serie A appearances since Sassuolo earned promotion, a phenomenal return for a player his age.

With defences already occupied by the likes of Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba, the prospects of what he could achieve as a Juventus player are frankly staggering. His deadly left foot would provide a smart contrast to Pirlo on set pieces, while his ability to play either on the wing or in a more central role would offer Allegri a plethora of tactical options.

The final reason for wishing to see him in the famous black-and-white stripes as soon as possible is to show there is room for promising youngsters to reach Juventus. The Bianconeri own or co-own a number of talented prospects, but having seen both Ciro Immobile and Manolo Gabbiadini move on, having one of these players join La Madama would send a clear message of intent to those concerned.

Perhaps he is the best of that crop, and a transfer to Juventus now could see Domenico Berardi truly become one of Italian football’s brightest stars.