Juventus May Harm Development of Daniele Rugani with Medhi Benatia Signing

There is little doubt that Juventus intend to make 2016/17 the season where their domestic superiority finally translates into tangible success in Europe, something coach Massimiliano Allegri discussed earlier this month.

“Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign,” the former AC Milan boss explained to JTV (h/t the official Juventus website). “And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it.”

The Bianconeri have undoubtedly had that objective at the forefront of their planning this summer, as the signings of Miralem Pjanic and Dani Alves clearly indicated.

Last week saw a third new arrival, and Bayern Munich defender Medhi Benatia certainly fits in with what appears to be a desperate desire to contend with UEFA’s elite clubs.

According to a statement on Juve’s official website, they paid a fee of €3 million to bring the Morocco international to the club on a season-long loan, while also having an option to make the deal permanent for €17 million in July 2017.

Born in the French city of Courcoronnes, Benatia's career thus far has taken on some interesting twists, but he will be hoping that a return to Italy and Serie A will help him rediscover his best form. 

He started out in the youth sector of Olympique de Marseille, only to be sent for loan spells with Tours and FC Lorient before being sold on to Clermont in the summer of 2008. Two impressive seasons with the Ligue 2 outfit brought him to the attention of Udinese where Benatia would steadily improve almost every aspect of his play. 

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In total he would play in Friuli for three years, making 97 appearances and showing superb tactical awareness. Standing 6' 3" (1.90 metres), he is capable of handling physical opponents but also reads the game well, his ability on the ball impressing AS Roma, who signed him in the summer of 2013.

It was with the Giallorossi that Benatia truly shone, the following campaign providing a complete showcase of his talents. According to statistics provided by WhoScored.com, he would average an impressive 2.1 tackles, 2.8 interceptions and 6.3 clearances per game as part of a vastly improved defensive unit.

Roma would achieve their highest-ever points total in 2013/14, an achievement due in no small part to the fact their back line conceded just 25 times over the entire campaign. The above tweet from OPTA highlights just how vital Benatia was to that solidity, while he also weighed in with a career-best tally of five goals.

Most came on set pieces, but it was his defensive abilities which prompted Bayern Munich to end his stay in the Italian capital after just one season after something of a bitter contract dispute took place.

In a statement on Roma’s official website (h/t FourFourTwo), club president James Pallotta revealed a verbal agreement had been struck on a new deal, only for Benatia to deny it.

The owner continued:

"

Over the following month he lied about wanting to stay and about the details of his compensation to both [coach] Rudi Garcia and his team-mates. 

Lying to me was one thing which I can somewhat handle. Lying to Rudi Garcia and his team-mates was completely unacceptable to me. 

I told [sporting director] Walter Sabatini he was becoming a poison and I wanted him gone, and Rudi and Walter agreed. 

It wasn't about the money; it was about having character in our locker room.

"

The Bavarian giants revealed they paid €25 million for the player, per Reuters (h/t Yahoo Sports), but—while the issues with Roma dissolved—he would never deliver on his potential in Germany as two injury-hit campaigns limited Benatia to just 46 total appearances.

Yet he also won consecutive Bundesliga titles and the German Cup, learning to play under intense pressure at a club where winning is deemed the normal result.

He arrives in Turin enriched by the experience of such a high-pressure environment and will provide excellent back-up to the established trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.

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But Benatia's arrival is a threat to Daniele Rugani, the promising young Italian having already found opportunities difficult to come by in his first season with the Bianconeri. The former Empoli man managed just 11 league starts last term, and he is almost certain to slip behind the new arrival in the pecking order.

The one positive to the situation seems to be Rugani’s maturity and desire to grow, though, as he explained in an interview with Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) what the season under the guidance of Allegri had done for his development:

"

To stay in the Juventus group you need to always be more determined, even taking risks with some interventions and getting a yellow card.

The Coach has often told me to become more aggressive, not more dirty.

I only think about working, Allegri decides. I’m available like the other players, I’ll always respect the decision of the Coach.

I was interested in making the jump up to Juve and to enter a group formed of great champions.

I don’t want to break up the Barzagli-Bonucci-Chiellini block, but give my contribution and make myself ready in case I’m needed.

I’m happy with the chances given to me, after a start that was a little difficult.

"

Rugani's ability and potential are unquestionable, but the signing of Benatia may lead him to question that bigger-picture view and could shape the next few years of his career.

Still only 21, time is on his side, but if he yearns to play regularly, then he and Juventus may be forced into some difficult choices.

According to figures from Who Scored, Rugani recorded averages of 1.7 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.8 clearances per game last term, shrugging off some early nerves to prove he should be playing for such a prestigious club.

In that aforementioned interview, he added that he hopes to “stay for many years and I’ll do everything to deserve staying for as long as possible,” but the signing of yet another high-quality defender may lead him to reconsider that stance.

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He would have no shortage of offers, with Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) noting interest from Arsenal, Napoli and AC Milan in recent weeks, though Juventus are thought to be steadfastly against any exit.

“The aim this season is that of retaining the Scudetto but also to be increasingly competitive in Europe as well," Benatia said at his first press conference with the club. "It’s undoubtedly our objective to confirm our position among the elite clubs on the continent.”

He may help them accomplish that, but it could well be at the expense of Rugani's future. It is a delicate situation, one which must be handled carefully as winning the Champions League would see Juventus reap untold benefits and raise their profile immeasurably.