Juventus Player-by-Player Guide to Their 2015/16 Serie A Squad
After a two-month wait, the new Serie A season finally arrives on Saturday, with reigning champions Juventus returning to action against Udinese the following day. It has been a tumultuous summer for the Turin side, with numerous changes taking place that have completely reshaped Massimiliano Allegri’s squad.
The high-profile exits have been well-documented, and there is certainly a very different look to the Grand Old Lady of Italian football in 2015/16. As the coach told a press conference following the Super Cup win over Lazio, the club is “building a Juve side with a future for the next four to five years.”
That has meant giving space to some exciting young talent, and over the following pages is a closer look at the squad, analysing each player, as the new signings join some familiar faces for what promises to be a campaign filled with intrigue.
All statistics taken from WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.
1. Gigi Buffon
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While many of the team’s veteran stars moved on over the summer, Gigi Buffon returns to captain Juventus once again in 2015/16. It will be his 15th season with the club, and despite approaching his 38th birthday, the Italian goalkeeper shows little sign of slowing down.
Still fully capable of the incredible saves that have punctuated his career, he kept no fewer than 18 clean sheets in his 33 Serie A appearances last term, adding a further five shutouts in Europe as the Bianconeri marched to the Champions League final.
2. Mauricio Isla
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It is somewhat surprising that Mauricio Isla remains in Turin, as it appeared the versatile Chilean was almost certain to leave the club this summer. Indeed, Sportsmediaset believed a move to Sevilla was almost complete (h/t Forza Italian Football), but the Andalusian outfit's interest seemingly fizzled out as the new season drew closer.
Isla spent last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers, making 27 appearances for the club that eventually finished bottom of the Premier League.
3. Giorgio Chiellini
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While Giorgio Chiellini’s robust style needs little introduction, his importance to Juventus was perhaps underlined last season by a game he missed through injury. Ruled out of the Champions League final, there was little doubt the team missed their defensive linchpin, and the club will certainly be relying upon him once again this term.
The 31-year-old defender remains the club’s best man-marker, and his aerial prowess at set pieces is also an important weapon in attack.
4. Martin Caceres
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If Chiellini’s impact is visible, the versatility of Martin Caceres is perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of this Juventus side.
Able to play anywhere across the back line—including as a wing-back when Allegri uses the 3-5-2 formation—the Uruguayan allows other players to rest and Juve to retain the solidity that has become a hallmark of the team.
6. Sami Khedira
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After featuring in just 17 games last term, Sami Khedira’s start to life in Italy has also been hit by injury, the official Juventus website reporting he will miss around two months of action after suffering a torn thigh muscle in pre-season.
The Bianconeri will hope he can recover, as at his best, the 28-year-old is fully capable of raising the quality of the midfield to the required standard.
7. Simone Zaza
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Of all Juve’s new signings, perhaps Simone Zaza is the one least expected to have a major impact. That could help the former Sassuolo striker blossom under the guidance of Allegri and alongside some top quality attacking players.
His ability was discussed at length in a previous article, and he is clearly aware of the challenge he faces after joining a talent-laden Bianconeri squad.
“Competition for places doesn’t frighten me, it’s something I was already prepared for when coming to Juventus,” Zaza said at his inaugural press conference with Juventus. “I’m ready to show people what I’ve got to offer.”
8. Claudio Marchisio
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Having shown last season that he could deputise for Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio will now have chance to prove he can do so on a permanent basis. Sami Khedira’s presence might mean a return to a more advanced role on the pitch, but the Turin native will now need to become a leader too.
“You can’t predict what kind of season it’s going to be,” Marchisio commented at a press conference held to announce his new five-year contract. But if it is to be a good one, Juventus will need him to shine once again.
9. Alvaro Morata
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Alvaro Morata’s debut campaign with Juventus could not have gone better, the Spanish youngster establishing himself as a first-team regular and scoring some hugely important goals. Strikes in the semi-final and final of the Champions League endeared him to Bianconeri supporters, but he will miss the start of the season with injury.
Ruled out with a calf problem, which the official Juventus website estimated would take him 30 days to recover from, Morata will need to work hard in order to regain his place.
10. Paul Pogba
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Perhaps no player needs to show just how good he can be in 2015/16 as Paul Pogba, with the French midfielder stepping forward and taking on the legacy created by some genuine legends of the game by switching squad numbers.
“Paul asked for the No. 10 in order to have greater responsibility this season,” Allegri said of Pogba at a recent press conference (h/t Gazzetta World). The midfielder will clearly need to do just that, but he has the potential to join the list of legends who have previously worn it, such as Alessandro Del Piero and Michel Platini.
11. Kingsley Coman
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Despite the strikers brought to Juventus this summer, Kingsley Coman was still handed a starting berth for the Supercoppa Italiana victory over Lazio. That showed just how highly Allegri thinks of the French youngster, and he will certainly have a role to play in the forthcoming campaign.
His pace stands out even in such illustrious company, providing the Bianconeri with a very different weapon to his team-mates.
14. Fernando Llorente
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Much like Mauricio Isla, it is something of a surprise to see Fernando Llorente still part of the Juventus squad as 2015/16 begins in earnest. The Spanish striker saw his role reduced considerably last term, losing his place in the starting XI to Alvaro Morata and looking largely ineffective whenever he did get chance to play.
Scoring just nine goals in all competitions, he too has been linked with a move away from Turin—ABC also linked him with a move to Sevilla (h/t Football Espana). With the arrivals of Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza, his chances of regular football seem to have diminished even further.
15. Andrea Barzagli
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After missing more than half the last campaign with a string of injuries, Andrea Barzagli’s return to fitness reminded everyone just how important he has become.
Allowing Allegri to switch to a three-man defence in order to seal games, he made an impressive impact as a substitute last term and is likely to repeat that role in 2015/16.
17. Mario Mandzukic
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While Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza arrive at Juventus with potential, Mario Mandzukic is perhaps much more of a guarantee. The former Atletico Madrid striker has reached the benchmark of 20 goals in each of his last three seasons, settling quickly to have an almost immediate impact at both his previous clubs.
Given they have lost so much star quality this summer, Juventus will hope he can do that a third time, but he is far from daunted by the task ahead.
“Do I feel pressure at replacing Tevez? Not at all,” Mandzukic told La Gazzetta dello Sport (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. Let me play, I am sure that I’ll have a great season.”
19. Leonardo Bonucci
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Arguably Juve’s best defender last term, Allegri will expect another year of consistent quality from Leonardo Bonucci. The 28-year-old shone brightest in the club’s biggest games, with goals against Roma, Milan and Fiorentina proving essential in their march to the league-and-cup double.
His passing from the back will likely be even more important following Andrea Pirlo’s exit, with Bonucci regularly displaying great vision when stepping forward into midfield.
20. Simone Padoin
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The squad’s Mr Reliable, Simone Padion is never expected to play a starring role but has shown in recent seasons he can be depended upon to deliver consistently and without complaint in any role.
Whether at full-back or in midfield, the 31-year-old rarely disappoints and needs just four appearances to reach 100 games for Juventus.
21. Paulo Dybala
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Signed for what the official Juventus website reveals could climb as high as €40 million, Paulo Dybala will hope to continue the excellent form he showed at Palermo into the new campaign. Weighing in with 13 goals and 10 assists, the Argentinian striker must not let that hefty price tag affect his performances on the pitch.
Without Carlos Tevez, Juventus will need his inventiveness and penchant for spectacular goals if they are to continue to enjoy the success of recent seasons.
22. Kwadwo Asamoah
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After playing just 10 games last term, it appears Kwadwo Asamoah’s injury woes are finally behind him. The Ghanaian recently visited the specialist who operated on his knee, and Juventus announced on their official website that he could return to training in early September.
With no real alternative to Patrice Evra at left-back and the high-profile departures in midfield, the former Udinese star could play a major role for the Bianconeri in 2015/16.
24. Daniele Rugani
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Daniele Rugani may have finished school, but the 21-year-old is about to begin his footballing education. Having played for Empoli regularly for the past two seasons, he will now learn from the likes of Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini, with the experience of training with and playing alongside them likely to prove invaluable.
Already clearly very mature, he was the only outfield player in Serie A to be on the field for 90 minutes in all 38 games last season, and he impressively managed to do so without picking up a single yellow card.
25. Neto
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Neto has been superb for Fiorentina in recent seasons, and his move to Turin was somewhat surprising given the continued presence of Gigi Buffon. He replaces Marco Storari after keeping 10 clean sheets for La Viola last term, a tally bettered by only four men: Morgan De Sanctis of Roma, Chievo’s Albano Bizzarri, Inter’s Samir Handanovic and, of course, the Juventus captain.
He will likely feature in the Coppa Italia, but he must be ready at all times to step in should Allegri opt to rest his first choice ‘keeper.
26. Stephan Lichtsteiner
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In a summer that saw many changes at Juventus, Allegri will be happy to see the familiar presence of Stephan Lichtsteiner at right-back. The Switzerland international has become a central figure for the Bianconeri and compares favourably with the best players in the world at his position, a matter discussed at length in a previous article.
Consistently excellent, Lichtsteiner will never neglect his defensive duties while pressing forward to contribute to the attack whenever possible.
27. Stefano Sturaro
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Stefano Sturaro only arrived at Juventus in January, and despite the quality of players around him, he proved to be an important midfield addition. The 22-year-old was excellent whenever he was called upon, averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game and starting in some of the year’s biggest matches.
“I'm a guy who looks at every player and tries to learn from everyone,” Sturaro told Sky Sports recently (h/t Football Italia). It seems he has put those lessons to good use.
33. Patrice Evra
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Signed from Manchester United after a poor season, few expected Patrice Evra to have quite the impact he eventually did at Juventus. Quickly winning a place in the starting XI, the Frenchman was key in Allegri’s decision to use a four-man defence, while he also proved useful in the 3-5-2 formation.
The Bianconeri will expect similar consistency from the former Monaco man this term, and he has proved to be a valuable source of experience and leadership.
34. Rubinho
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Clearly the third-choice goalkeeper, Rubinho has collected no fewer than six major trophies despite making just two appearances in his three years with the club. The arrival of Neto is likely to do little to change that, and the 33-year-old can look forward to little more than a front-row seat every weekend.
37. Roberto Pereyra
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Given Roberto Pereyra already played a significant role at Juventus last term, midfield departures could see the Argentinian become even more prominent in 2015/16. He made 52 appearances in all competitions, Allegri deploying him behind the strikers, as an orthodox midfielder and even as a wing-back.
His pace, skill and inventiveness saw him mature as a player, and Juventus will need him to continue to improve if they are to replicate their recent success this time around.
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