Who Is Set to Be the Next Big Star for Serie A Giants Juventus?

The new campaign began in the best possible manner for Juventus, easing to a 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana last weekend. Played in difficult conditions at Shanghai Stadium, the game showed that there remains a gulf between the Bianconeri and their domestic competition.

That point was discussed at length in this previous column, but Massimiliano Allegri is under no illusion as to the task ahead of him after losing Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez. “We made some good summer signings, but it takes patience for the team to gel completely,” the coach told Rai Sport after the game (h/t ESPN FC).

“We are building a Juve that can have a future for the next four or five years,” Allegri continued, and it was pleasing to see that new arrivals Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic grabbed the goals that sealed yet another trophy for Italian football’s grand Old Lady.

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That bodes well, with the departing trio arguably the club’s three star players. The changes leave a void for new ones to emerge. Paul Pogba is undoubtedly the biggest name that remains, and he is certain to play a far more prominent role in the forthcoming campaign as Juve’s most influential midfielder.

The Frenchman has been handed the prestigious No. 10 shirt vacated by Tevez, and Allegri revealed that it was a switch that was surprisingly made at the player’s own request.

“Paul asked for the No. 10 in order to have greater responsibility this season,” the coach told a press conference last week (h/t Gazzetta World). “It will be a big responsibility because wearing that shirt is not easy. It has been worn by some of the greatest players in the club’s history.”

That should add fresh impetus to Pogba’s play, but there should be a number of other players pushing themselves into the spotlight alongside him, with Dybala another who must look to repay the faith Juventus have shown in him.

The former Palermo forward did not arrive cheaply, with the Serie A champions revealing via their official website that they had paid €32 million—with potentially a further €8 million in bonuses—to bring him to Turin.

They will expect a return on that investment, hoping the 21-year-old can continue the form that saw him bag 13 goals and 10 assists last term. Fellow new signings Mandzukic and Sami Khedira are already well-known stars, but Alvaro Morata is another player who could become a central figure in this new-look side.

Having already spent a year at the club, the Spaniard will need to step up and take on more responsibility, while at the opposite end of the field Daniele Rugani will need to patiently await his chance to shine.

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The former Empoli player has essentially replaced Angelo Ogbonna as the club’s fifth-choice central defender, and the quality of the men ahead of him is likely to limit his playing time. Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres provide Allegri with a variety of options, but Rugani’s ability should be in no doubt.

Playing with a maturity far beyond his years, the 21-year-old cannot help but improve as he trains regularly among such accomplished defenders. Along with the aforementioned names, he forms a group of talented young players with huge chances of becoming stars in the famous black and white stripes.

Perhaps the last name with star potential is Roberto Pereyra, and his confidence should be higher than ever after being part of the Argentina squad that reached the final of the Copa America. His impact was discussed at length here, and is yet another reason to believe that a bright future awaits Juventus.

It is a future that will undoubtedly be led by Paul Pogba, however, and it is difficult to look beyond him as the one player who will be the club's focal point. How he deals with that pressure—not to mention his new squad number—is set to be one of this season's most interesting and impactful stories