4 Juventus Youngsters Who Could See Playing Time in 2015/16 Season

With a strategy that clearly sees them building for the future, Juventus have accrued some of the finest young talent in Europe. With Paulo Dybala joining a squad that already contains the likes of Paul Pogba and Kingsley Coman, the future of the Italian champions looks almost as impressive as the success they are currently enjoying.

As well as those aforementioned names, the Bianconeri have also moved on some fine players in recent years, sacrificing players such as Manolo Gabbiadini in order to strengthen other areas of the team.

Yet the club still has a vast array of talent under contract, and some of those talents could see action in 2015/16, with coach Massimiliano Allegri clearly unafraid of fielding young players whenever possible.

Over the following pages we take a look at four Juventus starlets who could feature next term, with a brief look at the contribution that can reasonably be expected from each of them.

Daniele Rugani

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Perhaps the most obvious name that could become part of Juve’s first-team plans in 2015/16 is Daniele Rugani, the defender who has spent the last two seasons with Empoli, the club where his career first began.

The 20-year-old was first signed in co-ownership by the Bianconeri three years ago, playing with the club’s youth sector for a year before returning to his Tuscan home. There he has blossomed into a fine central defender, earning a call up to the full Italy squad last season and also seeing Juventus buy him outright back in February.

The Turin giants paid €3.5 million for that privilege, according to their official website. Looking at his impact—analysed in depth here—it is easy to understand why. With concerns over the long-term fitness of Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres, Rugani could find space in the Juve back line sooner than expected.

Kingsley Coman

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While Juve’s approach with young players is admirable, Kingsley Coman could yet be a casualty of what has already been a busy summer for the Bianconeri. Despite the departures of Carlos Tevez and Alessandro Matri, the club’s attacking options have clearly grown stronger and deeper following a number of interesting acquisitions.

Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala provide a variety of options to Massimiliano Allegri, and the young Frenchman may end up being loaned out due to a lack of space. Should he stay in Turin, however, Coman has already won the trust of the coach, making 16 appearances in his debut campaign.

He weighed in with one goal and two assists and can expect to improve if he is given further opportunities with the Italian champions.

Mattia Vitale

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Another example of both Allegri and Juve’s devotion to developing talent, Mattia Vitale made two substitute appearances last season. According to the coach, the 17-year old “can play as a box-to-box midfielder or just ahead of the defence,” per UEFA.com. He might feature more often in 2015/16, and the player himself is aware of the challenge that awaits.

"Training with Juve you always see players like [Andrea] Pirlo or [Claudio] Marchisio and you obviously hope to become like them one day,” Vitale told the same source. “I'm fully aware that it will be extremely difficult. I just have to keep working hard and try."

Filippo Romagna

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Should Juventus opt to once again loan out Daniele Rugani, a player like Filippo Romagna could ultimately benefit. The 18-year-old—who is currently captain of the club’s Primavera side—was an unused substitute four times in 2014/15, and he might expect to make his full debut next season.

His progress with the Bianconeri was discussed in detail in this previous column, and Romagna might join the likes of Claudio Marchisio as a graduate of the Turin club’s under-utilised youth sector over the next 12 months.