Juventus: Realistic Expectations for Rest of Season for Alessandro Matri

Alessandro Matri has returned to Juventus, the striker one of a number of under-the-radar signings made late last month by the Italian champions. Having spent three seasons with the Bianconeri, the 30-year-old should settle back in quickly, and be quickly ready to contribute to their title push.

Matri was the club’s leading scorer during Antonio Conte’s first title-winning side, his 10 goals helping the club go undefeated for the entire 2011-12 season. Yet he would eventually leave the club in the summer of 2013, having seen his playing time dwindle in the two subsequent campaigns.

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He seemingly struggled to settle away from Turin, moving in each of the three transfer windows during the intervening 18 months. His first stop was a return to where his career began, hoping a reunion with Massimiliano Allegri at Milan could reignite his career after the pair enjoyed much success in their time together at Cagliari.

Their time together saw Allegri named Serie A coach of the year and earn the job at Milan, the striker rewarded with his €18 million move to the Bianconeri. The San Siro giants paid €11 million to re-sign a player who was a product of their own youth sector, a fantastic piece of business from Juventus director general Beppe Marotta.

After he scored just one goal in 19 games, Milan’s struggles saw them sack Allegri at the turn of the year, and in turn send Matri on loan to Fiorentina. Injuries to Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez saw him given plenty of opportunities, but a meagre return of five goals in 21 games led to the Viola passing on the chance to make the deal permanent.

Another loan followed, this time to Genoa in time for the start of the current campaign, and only 11 players in Serie A can better his tally of seven goals thus far in 2014-15. That total surpasses any Juventus player other than Carlos Tevez who has 14 to his name, adding a reliable scorer to the options available to Allegri.

Squawka.com

As the above graphic—courtesy of Squawka.com— shows, he has been deadly in front of goal, finding the target with 63 percent of his shot attempts this term. The player himself could not hide his delight in being able to once again pull on the famous black-and-white stripes, as he told the club’s official website last week, per Football Italia:

"

It’s a great feeling to be back, as I saw many old friends again, I’m back with a group I already knew and felt very comfortable with. I am happy to be here and hope to be able to help the team. I’ve found a very strong team with fantastic players, which is exactly what I left.

The Coach has accompanied me for most of my career, he helped me grow up at Cagliari, we met again at Milan and now here. I want to do well for him as well as for Juve.

"

While Alvaro Morata has begun to shine, the return of Matri should serve as a timely reminder that Fernando Llorente cannot rest on his laurels. The Spanish veteran enjoyed a fine debut campaign with the Bianconeri last term, as his tally of 18 goals in all competitions attests, but he has struggled so far this year.

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Scoring just four times in Serie A, his lack of impact was discussed in detail here and has led to Morata supplanting him in Allegri’s first-choice XI. Matri is unlikely to displace the young Spaniard, but he does provide a veteran presence that could make a crucial contribution during the final months of the campaign.

His role is likely to be limited, but with the Bianconeri still participating in the Coppa Italia as well as Serie A and the Champions League, his chances will come. Like with Marco Borriello and Pablo Osvaldo before him, it is not difficult to see Matri weighing in with a couple of vital goals in key matches—and perhaps five or six in total—along the way.

His experience can also be key, passing on the insight and knowledge to Morata and Kingsley Coman, just as Nicolas Anelka did in the past for Matri and Fabio Quagliarella. No longer expected to be first-choice, Alessandro Matri’s reduced role could be perfect for both him and Juventus for the rest of the season.