4 Juventus Players with Much to Prove in 2015/16 Serie a Season

As Juventus approach the 2015/16 season, the changes made to the playing squad have gathered much attention, with the departure of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez expected to take a major toll.

The absence of that trio is likely to make Massimiliano Allegri’s team very different to watch in the forthcoming campaign, as it arguably robs the coach of his three most prominent players in the space of a single summer.

This previous column covered the search for a new star name in depth, but there is also now a crop of names with much to prove in Turin this term.

What follows is a look at four of those players in greater detail, with attention given to why they specifically need to deliver for the Bianconeri when Serie A returns to action this weekend.

1. Paul Pogba

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“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). “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.”

Indeed, in taking over the squad number following Carlos Tevez’s return to Boca Juniors, the Frenchman inherits a heavy legacy, which, of course, flows through iconic captain Alessandro Del Piero, having also been previously worn by Roberto Baggio, Michel Platini and Omar Sivori.

To follow in their footsteps, Pogba will need to consistently deliver performances of the highest order, and while his quality is not in doubt, proving he deserves such an honour brings with it intense expectation.

2. Paulo Dybala

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If a number is the reason Pogba has something to prove in 2015/16, the same is somewhat true of Paulo Dybala. While he has taken on Andrea Pirlo’s No. 21 shirt, it is the transfer fee paid for the Argentinian striker that brings pressure upon him to show just what he can do.

Having weighed in with 13 goals and 10 assists for Palermo last term, Juventus handed the Rosanero a sum of €32 million—plus a further €8m in potential further bonuses—according to their official website.

As Juventus seek to fill the void left by Tevez, a similar number of goals from his compatriot Dybala would be a fine start to life in Turin.

3. Sami Khedira

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Unlike Dybala and Pogba, there is no question that Sami Khedira has already proven himself more than capable of delivering on the biggest stages football has to offer. The German midfielder helped his national team end a long trophy drought at the 2014 World Cup, having done the same at club level just a few weeks earlier as Real Madrid won their 10th European Cup.

Indeed, when it comes to Khedira, what he must prove is that he is capable of staying fit after playing part in just 17 matches last term. He has already been ruled out of action, with Juventus reporting via their official website that the 28-year-old had suffered a torn thigh muscle in the friendly clash with Marseille.

According to that report, the midfielder will miss approximately two months of action and upon his return, he must hope he can sustain his fitness for the remainder of the campaign.

4. Alvaro Morata

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Perhaps it is somewhat harsh to include Alvaro Morata on this list, but events in pre-season mean the young Spaniard also has much to prove when he returns to action with Italian football’s grand Old Lady.

Like Sami Khedira, the former Real Madrid man is set to miss the start of the campaign, ruled out with a calf problem, which the official Juventus website estimated would take 30 days to recover from.

His other issue came in the friendly with Lechia Gdansk, as Max Allegri introduced him as a half-time substitute only to replace him after just 26 minutes. The coach explained his decision at his post-game press conference (h/t FourFourTwo):

"

It wasn't Morata's day and I didn't like his attitude. Regardless of technical errors, what really did not go well today was his attitude. When something didn't work for him, he just stopped.

That is why I asked him to get off the pitch. He made me angry on the pitch, but then he was good as he went off to train by himself.

"

Morata must show renewed focus when he regains fitness and prove himself capable of winning back both his place in the team and the trust of Allegri.