Why 20 Goals Is a Realistic Aim for Juventus' Mario Mandzukic in 2015/16

While there is little doubt Juventus will miss the creativity, drive and consummate quality that Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal brought to their midfield over the past four years, the biggest loss for Massimiliano Allegri’s team this summer could well be that of Carlos Tevez.

Opting to return home to Boca Juniors, the Argentinian striker leaves a gaping hole in the Bianconeri attack, having led the club in terms of goals scored for each of his two campaigns in Turin. Rather than replace him with a single player, the reigning Italian champions hope to do so by committee, bringing in a trio of new attacking players they will hope can make up for Tevez’s absence.

Simone Zaza has impressed with Sassuolo but has everything to prove at the highest level, while Paulo Dybala will be aiming to show his breakout campaign last term—in which he recorded 13 goals and 10 assists—was no fluke.

In stark contrast to the promise of that duo, Mario Mandzukic arrives at Juventus very much a proven commodity on the European stage. The Croatian star needs little introduction, having played for both Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in recent years, impressing for both clubs before arriving in Italy.

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According to their official website, the Bianconeri paid a fee of €19 million to the Spanish side for Mandzukic, with a potential €2 million in bonuses to be added on if certain performance-related targets are met.

Juventus will hope for a solid return on their investment, and the player’s track record certainly bodes well in that regard. He has displayed remarkable consistency since swapping Wolfsburg for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2012, reaching the benchmark of 20 goals in each of the three subsequent campaigns.

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Mandzukic's debut season at the Allianz Arena saw him bag 22 goals in 40 appearances, following that up with 26 goals in 48 games in 2013/14. From there he made the switch to Atleti, netting 20 in 43 matches in all competitions as part of Diego Simeone’s squad, only to move on again 12 months later and join La Madama.

The player himself was happy to explain the reasons for heading to the peninsula, telling reporters at his inaugural press conference that it was simple choice to make. “Juventus is a fantastic club that I have long admired for their track record of winning titles, so this has been a straightforward decision,” Mandzukic said, per the club’s official website. “The side boasts many excellent players and they are the best team in Italy.”

They will need the 29-year-old to regularly find the back of the net in order to maintain that position, and he made a fine start by netting in their 2-0 Italian Super Cup win over Lazio last weekend, a match reviewed in detail here.

He is also unfazed by the thought of making up for the departure of the man he and the other new signings are attempting to fill in for. “Do I feel pressure at replacing Tevez? Not at all,” Mandzukic told La Gazzetta dello Sport recently (h/t Football Italia). “I am accustomed to it, as at Bayern Munich there was huge competition between strikers.”

“I am Mandzukic and I believe in myself,” he continued. “Let me play, I am sure that I’ll have a great season.” That confidence—alongside his impressive early form for the Bianconeri—bodes well for the forthcoming campaign, and he should certainly be aiming to break the 20 barrier once again.

Achieving that for a fourth-straight season would be an impressive accomplishment, and it would likely go a long way toward helping Juventus seal a record-equalling fifth consecutive Serie A title.