Who Should Be Juventus' Priority in Contract Talks?

The winter transfer window has ended, and teams such as Juventus will soon start casting their eyes toward the future.  

Players will be evaluated for possible summer transactions, while others will get contract extensions—either to keep an expiring deal going or for teams to declare resistance to any potential advances from other teams.

Juventus is one of the teams that will be taking a look at its contract situation in the next few months.  Fortunately for the Bianconeri, the majority of their best players are locked up for quite a long time.

Midfield hinge Claudio Marchisio is locked up until 2020, as are wunderkind striker Paulo Dybala and defensive stalwart Leonardo Bonucci.  Giorgio Chiellini is under contract until 2018, and Paul Pogba—if the team can resist insane money offers—will be a Bianconero until 2019.

Five players have contracts that are expiring this year.  Third-string goalkeeper Rubinho is fairly inconsequential to the team going forward.  Midfielder Simone Padoin is also heading into free agency, and while he may re-sign, he'll only be an ancillary piece going forward.

The other three players are defenders, and all three are decidedly more important.  Left-back Patrice Evra may return, but the continued emergence of Alex Sandro could drive the Frenchman elsewhere.  Martin Caceres, a hybrid right-back/center-back who has served the team well over the years, is likely to be allowed to leave after his second drink-driving incident in two seasons earlier this year.

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That leads us to one last expiring deal—and the one that Juve should make a priority before the season is over.  That deal belongs to Andrea Barzagli.

Barzagli arrived at Juventus in the winter of 2011.  After helping Wolfsburg to a Bundesliga title in 2008-09, his form had fallen off dramatically, enough for Juve to claim his services for a mere €300,000.

Since then he has emerged as one of the best defenders in the world.  Whether in a three-man or four-man line, Barzagli has earned his nickname "The Wall" as he combined with Bonucci, Chiellini and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to form what could be the best defensive unit in all of Europe.

A leader on the field and a key contributor off it, Barzagli is also the oldest of Juve's center-back trio.  He'll be 35 by the time the season ends and has had some injury issues over the last two seasons.  That's why Juve has Daniele Rugani—practically a carbon copy of Barzagli—on the team, and why the club have been so resolute in resisting offers for the youngster.

But while Barzagli doesn't have much time left—he said in October that he will retire from international soccer after UEFA Euro 2016—he has shown he can still be exceptional while on the field.

He has been rock solid whenever he's seen the field.  He's shown a surprising versatility this season, playing as a full-back in the hybrid 3-5-2/4-3-3 coach Massimilano Allegri deployed when facing a selection crisis in October and even on the left side of the three-man line—normally Chiellini's domain—when Juve demolished Chievo 4-0 on Sunday.

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Some may wonder what effect retaining Barzagli may have on Rugani, who has seen very little of the field this year.  In the end the effect will be beneficial.

With Caceres on his way out, Rugani would be the unquestioned backup in the 3-5-2 and would only have one player between him and a four-man defense.  Having Barzagli in the team to continue to mentor the youngster would be invaluable in helping him reach his full potential—and the veteran may still be playing at a high level to boot.

Before the game against Chievo, Barzagli told Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) that he would like to finish his career at Juventus.  That will likely be only another season or two, and Juve should ensure that he does.

As an on-field contributor, locker room leader and instructor for the next generation, Barzagli is as valuable a player as you can find in Italy.  If he does undergo a sudden breakdown due to age or injury, Rugani is waiting in the wings to pick up the slack.  

Keeping Barzagli for at least one more season should be a no-brainer for the Bianconeri.