4 Players Whose Juventus Careers Could Come to an End in the Summer
Thanks to AS Roma's 1-0 win over Napoli on Monday evening, Juventus did not need to wait until Carpi visit Turin next Sunday in order to secure their fifth-consecutive Serie A title and have been celebrating their triumph all week thanks to the Giallorossi.
However it arrived, that Scudetto marks an historic accomplishment for the current Bianconeri squad while also underlining its incredible depth. With injuries affecting them throughout the campaign, 2015/16 has brought a number of lesser-used players to the fore, and some have shown that their immediate futures may lie away from Turin.
Juventus clearly need to add some genuine quality if they are to make an impact on the latter stages of the Champions League, and what follows—in no particular order—is a look at four players whose time with the club may come to an end this summer in order to facilitate that.
1. Kwadwo Asamoah
1 of 4
Kwadwo Asamoah has been a fine player for Juventus in the past, but he now risks being squeezed out by the sheer depth of talent available to coach Massimiliano Allegri in both midfield and at left wing-back.
That increased quality throughout the squad, combined with the Ghana international’s continued injury issues may see him sold this summer in order to hand increased playing time to younger members of the squad.
That will be vital in helping the likes of Alex Sandro, Stefano Sturaro and Mario Lemina develop, which could sadly spell the end for the 27-year-old Asamoah.
2. Martin Caceres
2 of 4
Much like with Kwadwo Asamoah, a combination of injuries and the rise of younger talent could see Martin Caceres and Juventus part ways this summer. The Uruguay international tore his Achilles tendon back in February, with a statement on the club's official website ruling him out for the rest of the season following surgery.
With Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini all ahead of him, the Bianconeri director general Beppe Marotta seems happy to lose Caceres in order to allow rising star Daniele Rugani to become a more prominent member of the side next term.
“I don’t know if Caceres will go to Napoli,” the club official said on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli this week (h/t Football Italia). “He’s out of contract and at this moment he’s free to find an agreement with whoever he wants to.”
3. Hernanes
3 of 4
In arguably the worst signing made by Juventus in recent years, the club handed Inter Milan an initial fee of €11 million for the Brazilian midfielder, which may rise by a further €2 million, according to their official website.
They have received little return on that investment, with the 30-year-old yet to record a single goal or assist since joining the Bianconeri. Juventus may look to move him on when the current campaign comes to an end, with Hernanes proving to be a major disappointment in almost all of his appearances to date.
4. Simone Zaza
4 of 4
Unlike the other names on this list—who have all arguably become surplus to requirements this season—Simone Zaza may move on despite playing an important role for Juventus throughout the 2015/16 campaign.
According to the club's official website, they paid Sassuolo a fee of €18 million for the striker last summer, but he has struggled to find regular playing time since making that high-profile move to the Bianconeri.
Yet despite playing just 542 minutes this term, per statistics provided by WhoScored.com, Zaza has scored seven goals and may seek a move away at the end of the season. Indeed, Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) recently stated its belief that AS Roma, Chelsea and AC Milan are interested in the 24-year-old.
Zaza has undoubtedly been a reliable back-up for the likes of Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata, meaning Juventus and coach Allegri may yet hope to convince him to remain in that role for the foreseeable future.
