3 Juventus Players to Watch out for in 2015 Pre-Season

After a brief summer break, next week sees the Juventus squad return for pre-season training, with the Turin giants preparing for a campaign in which they will look to repeat the incredible success achieved in 2014/15.

The team will of course have a very different look, with a number of high-profile changes including the arrivals of Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira. Those were of course offset this week by confirmation that Andrea Pirlo has moved on, the Italy legend calling time on his stint with the Bianconeri to join MLS side New York City FC.

That drew an emotional response from Gigi Buffon, the club captain thanking his friend on SportLobster “for having taught me that sometimes in this sport people can make things, that most think impossible, become real,” (h/t FourFourTwo).

Now Juventus must start again, with the club’s pre-season fixtures—analysed in detail here—looming on the horizon and with a raft of new signings to integrate into the side ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

There are of course many familiar faces, too, and over the following pages is a look at three players to watch closely in the coming weeks.

Sami Khedira

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Pirlo’s decision to leave Turin ensures that former Real Madrid and VFB Stuttgart midfielder Sami Khedira has a major role to play. Like the bearded genius, the German international is a World Cup winner who arrives at Juventus with a wonderful pedigree, but with similar doubts over his potential impact.

While Pirlo was marginalised at Milan and thrived on proving how grave a mistake the Rossoneri made in letting him go, Khedira will be eager to show that the injury problems that have blighted him are now over.

The 28-year-old made just four starts for Real Madrid last season, with a variety of problems keeping him off the field for lengthy periods. He will be looking to show that not only has he recovered, but that he can fill the very obvious void the Bianconeri will now have in midfield without Pirlo.

Paulo Dybala

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Signed before the 2014/15 season had even ended, Paulo Dybala has already become something of a forgotten man at Juventus. That seems strange given the club handed Palermo a staggering €32 million to secure his signature, but other high-profile moves at Juventus—and indeed across Serie A—have seen the striker overlooked somewhat.

Despite that, he could be arguably the most important attacking player in the Bianconeri squad, particularly with Carlos Tevez having moved on. Mario Mandzukic, Fernando Llorente and Simone Zaza are all fine goalscorers, but none has the capacity of the former Manchester City captain to create for himself and others.

Dybala proved that he does in a breakout campaign with the Sicilian side, and now he more than anyone will look to cover for the absence of his compatriot. While 13 goals and 10 assists last term was impressive, it will take much more to win over the Juventus supporters, so look for Dybala to seek a fast start to life with the club.

Kwadwo Asamoah

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Like Khedira, Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah will be hoping to put injury woe behind him once the pre-season gets underway. The 26-year-old found himself sidelined for an extended period last term, struggling after surgery and being removed from the Champions League squad when it was updated in January.

With time to recover ahead of the summer, he will surely be heading to training camp looking to impress the coaching staff and re-establish himself as an important part of the Juventus team. Massimiliano Allegri’s decision to primarily employ a four-man defence means Asamoah is likely to enjoy playing time in midfield as well as perhaps continuing to deputise for Patrice Evra at full-back.

He could, as discussed in this previous post, be a key figure for the Bianconeri in 2015/16.