It’s no secret to anyone who follows the game closely, or Juventus in general, that the almost surgical skill with which Juventus operates in the transfer market is helmed by Beppe Marotta. The aplomb with how he and his team have grafted a path from Serie B to regular Champions League contenders in less than a decade is nothing less than remarkable. Certainly, our greatest flaw in regards to transfer strategy has been the understanding that if a player asks to leave, we will let them go. A gentleman’s sort of agreement between mutual parties. Assured we are in the comfort that Beppe already has someone on his radar to replace them with whom is more than capable, and likely costing a fraction of the cost. It is this agenda which is truly harming Juventus. Certainly, the ability to maneuver in the market with such implicit skill is of enormous benefit, but a revolving door is bad for a dressing room.
When you look at Barcelona, Madrid, Bayern, et al champions league contenders, there’s one thing that truly separates them from us. It’s not revenue, it’s not TV rights, it’s not our manager, personnel, merchandise sales, or anything else you may be able to draw on. The simple fact is, they maintain the same core group of players for many years. (This is also seemingly why the premier league hasn’t provided a team with a sustained Champions League impact since Sir Alex was the skipper at Manchester United. But, that’s neither here nor there.)
If we look solely at the lineups from our two most recent Champions League finals in the past few years, we’ll notice that 6 players in total were on both rosters across starters and subs. (I have included Chiellini in this even though he was injured for the 2015 final.) Realizing that when you announce your champions league squad, you’re allotted 23 roster slots, the immediate reaction for all Juventus supporters should be nothing short of alarm. Take that in contrast with Real Madrid’s last two champions league triumphs and you’ll notice less than 5 differences across starters and subs. Barcelona’s champions league triumphs are another of the same story.
I will concede that it’s been necessary to restructure, recruit and rebuild ever since Calciopoli, especially as we have grown in both stature and financial might. The question I typically come face to face with is, have we done too much? We’ve certainly pulled off some amazing coups in regards to transfers, but have we sacrificed stability and consistency to shop in the bargain bin? Have we splashed the cash on almost an entire new 11 of starters and fringe players every year for the sake of saving when they’re undoubtedly going to be shown the exit door within 36 months? (Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez, Dani Alves, and the list goes on.)
Antonio Conte once famously quipped, “Well, you cannot go to eat at a 100-euro restaurant with just 10 euro in your pocket, can you?” There is absolutely something to that, but we have simply eclipsed that turn of phrase financially. We have ample funds to spend and we have flexed that muscle. We have proven that we can surely eat at the 100-euro restaurant with the rest of the big boys of world football.
This year marks what I believe could be a pivotal turning point in our quest for Champions League glory. We at last truly have an undeniably world class starting 11 at our disposal. We have startling strength in depth, and we have one of the best tacticians in Max Allegri as our manager to navigate the waters. What we need now is to allow Mad Max to take this group and keep them together for several years straight. To give him the stability to truly get the best out of our players. The ability to gain that consistency and understanding between players that truly marks a great side and allows them to be competitive year in and year out. If we can keep this squad together, make minor adjustments in the coming windows, we have every opportunity to truly make our mark on the continent. If we continue to live by the sword of if they ask to leave, we’ll allow it, and buying and selling the way we have, we’ll always simply be trying to find a balance, trying to build a balance.
Well done. My thoughts entirely over the last few seasons. Good to see some numbers / states on the turnover of players for us v Real.
I believe in the concept that there must be a journeys end on the road to rebuilding, otherwise like you say you just have a constant work in progress; a building site of a club where the foundations are never quite solid. The journey of rebuilding has come to an end. The cheap deals and wheeling and dealing done to get us to the end of the road have done what they needed too. The foundations laid should now support us going forward – now we can move forward from a platform of strength to that elusive champions league crown.
No more letting players leave Beppe, there will always be more money elsewhere, and agents will always be tapping up our talent. Just say no……
Great analysis my friend, could not agree more:
“What we need now is to allow Mad Max to take this group and keep them together for several years straight. To give him the stability to truly get the best out of our players.”
“If we continue to live by the sword of if they ask to leave, we’ll allow it, and buying and selling the way we have, we’ll always simply be trying to find a balance, trying to build a balance.”
So true man. I can’t wait for year when we just make 2-3 moves tops, and build on what we have — not give it yet another makeover. The only problem I see with this, is infact, the bargain buying. Most of those bargains are tied to players ages. And if we continue to buy players on the wrong side of 30 because of their enticing price, well, obviously they won’t be around long enough to build upon.
What RM does really well — and I understand they have more cash and more lure to the badge — is they don’t go for bargain buys. Ever. Why has their squad only had five changes over the years? Because everyone they invest in is young and talented and is able to stick around for many years.
I think we’re on the right track, but it may still be a few years before we reach that point of needing little change. Barzagli, Buffon, Chiellini, Marchisio, Lichsteiner, Khedira, even Mandzukic and Higuain are all going to have to throw in the towel sooner than later. But even though they all play a large role, I think the rest of the squad is built for the long run. Can we win the champions league before we need to replace these guys? Hopefully. And of course the rebuilding and squad solidity can’t exists if we go sell Sandro and Dybala next summer. So hopefully Beppe can stand strong in the years to come.
Well written, Travis and a warm welcome to the ranks!
You have covered, with solid depth, a subject where I often find myself able to relate but ultimately at odds with a consensus I have perceived in others.
There is a significant difference in wage budgets which has to be pondered and is of prime importance. We ranked 10th for last season, of the top wage bills in world football.
10 – Juve 181m
9. Liverpool 200m
8. Bayern 225m
7.Arsenal 234m
6. PSG 239m
5. Man City 248m
4. Real M 250m
3. Chelsea 256m
2. Man United 265m
1. Barcelona 279m
(all in pound sterling for 16/17 season)
A quick but useful peek at revenue from the last deloitte football money report of early 2017 shows –
10. Juve 255,1m
9. Liverpool 302m
8. Chelsea 334.6m
7. Arsenal 350.4m
6. PSG 389.6m
5. Man City 392.6m
4. Bayen 442.7m
3. Real M 463.8m
2. Barca 463.8m
1.Man U 513.3m
Yes of course these will change a little for the new campaign. Yet they illustrate that even – by my understanding – the most brilliantly run club on the planet – Bayern fork out 44m more in wages than us and bring in nearly 200m more in revenue! In a period during which they are not dominating in Europe as they are domestically.
So clearly other clubs can and do pay higher wages than we do because they earn much more than we do. This puts us at a disadvantage. All players can earn more at other clubs. It didnt used to be this way, for we were often near the top, certainly within a crowd, of elite paymasters. And it showed on the field. Times began to change with the turn of the century. The premier league as a product had been superbly marketed and staggering investments were made, at first here and there, then more commonly. Not just at England, but elsewhere…e.g. PSG and Monaco.
Yet its also a fact that Serie A fell behind. Some of this was down to poor marketing. The calciopoli bother assuredly affected Juve and Serie A as a product, and therefore as a destination. Serie A was sinking. In popularity and prestige. And people don’t remember the reality of Juve never been found guilty of match fixing. Throw enough mud and some leaves a mark. Tell a lie a million times, and many will keep believing as the Western ‘leaders’ operate..It has been Juve to drag the league back up into the continental conversation, but still, there are plenty of supporters who could name you most the REal or Barca sides, but few of the Juve players, other than Buffon…The club has a huge amount of work to do.
In terms of revenue, it makes worrying reading. Yet last season’s CL run will again bolster our figures for the next report by the same crowd. Still we are lagging behind financially. That is the main strand of this story. The other is the league itself as I have briefly outlined…
Andrea Agnelli deserves as much praise as Marotta. It has been his guidance, his demands, his very hands on approach as President which has allowed the likes of Conte, Paratici, Marotta, Allegri to get on with their work and flourish. He is constantly attending meetings with other business leaders from football and beyond, learning, exchanging ideas, spearheading modernisation, exploring every avenue which could raise the profile of the club and the league in turn.
I assume we could up the wage budget, but why should we? We have reached 2 finals of the premier club competition on the planet in the last 3 years, won 6 league titles on the trot not to mention the domestic coppas. I do not believe we should change our wage policy in as major a manner as would bee to be done to be able to match our elite rivals. You see, if you pay one player mega wages, the others will want this also. And rightly so. If they dont get the same wages, they will go where they can.
This is the balancing act. Yet one I feel we are fine with presently. The new sky deal for the PL will perhaps add to Serie A’s problems, but investment has been coming in, and prices of Serie A players are rising. Which is good and bad…Until our marketing can improve and we can maximize more revenue stream and Serie A remains low down the $ list for TV and advertising, I am happy to see the club moving in the right direction, able to attract players to our prestige and hunger for success year upon year. Whilst accepting that for the many, money talks the loudest.
Showing more sternness when players agitate for a move can prove a negative consideration for players we wish to sign. Also, agents seem to have more clout than the clubs these days. Which is fine if you are Man U or Real or Barca and can afford to spend an extra 5, 10, 50m…Not so palatable to pay the demands of these fiends for Juve. That is not part of our business model.
As for a world class first XI…At GK, LB and CF – yes without any doubts. But Lichsteiner is a bit long in the fang, a dependable back-up and solid option against average opponents but no world beater. De Sciglio I have high hopes for but he will need time to regain rhythm, sharpness and adjust. Chiellini is creaking, as is Barzagli. Big Sami impresses me nowhere near often enough for me to consider him world class. Great on occasion, but those occasions are too sporadic.
Pjanic I suppose, yet I really do not believe we have found a system to get the best out of him yet. Costa? Perhaps? Though he was hardly a first XI regular for Bayer last season. Bernardeschi? Has the potential, and I hope he is given the chance to develop sooner rather than later. Dybala? Still needs to gain consistency and more settled position – he should focus more on the final third. sublime potential, obviously.
Marchiso, if fit, if sharp, yes…a world class midfielder.
So for me, there are many questions to ask of this squad.
Interesting GP, as I have read reports showing us pay more in wages than Liverpool and Bayern. But it’s pretty close nevertheless, and Bayern don’t ever seem close to being parted with Lewandowski. Maybe Serie A is just not interesting enough or perceived as glamorous enough for some players to want to hang around.
That was part of my own thinking above, which came out a little garbled as I deal with other nuisances…clearly the league was very popular in the 90s, then in the early 21st century the PL clubs began to catch up, money started moving out of italy, owners didnt invest so much, then TV money lessened, PL exploded, attracted more investment, became the ever blossoming number 1 football product globally…calciopoli didnt help, though the other teams were losing financial muscle and prominence alongside. Inter and AC. Lazio also. Napoli took a place and have thankfully stayed up there…but how many Naples supporters do you know outside Italy? Its Juve, Inter. AC, Roma…those are the only shirts I ever see around the globe outside of Italy.
And as only Juve have done well enough to feature in the CL finals…its taken time to recover the reputation. Which is improving.
AS for the figures ive seen the 181m bandied around a fair amount, so used that. Serie A is not perceived as glamorous anymore. Juve have been revived but still, many couldnt tell you who is decent, or name the star players of the top teams. go back 10-20 years and they could…
Moratti did more than fuck off Juve when he organised the calciopoli debacle….he stuck a knife in the heart of italian football as a whole. Even his own club have suffered. megalomaniac scum brat.
And whilst your eyes might be here still…what do you make of Spinazzola? Ive seen lots of folk talk of him as an upgrade on Lichsteiner and De Sciglio and Asamoah, when I saw him playing LM last season…
Also, his decision to refuse to play for Atalanta last weekend, against Roma…? For me this is not the behaviour of a decent pro, its brattish, forcing a move through throwing his skirts out the drawer and squealing ‘fine, i wont get dressed at all, mummy’…
I don’t really know too much about him to be honest chap. I’ve become totally confused on all the players we have signed, loaned and other complex ownership agreements on. I can’t make sense of where we are heading with so much talent on the books that isn’t being brought back home. Hence why I rely on your features and youth reports. Squaring the circle that is why I want to devote more time to Serie A and less to EPL this season. I have to say if I was stuck in Bergamo and knew Juve were calling then I would throw my toys out of pram.
But I agree it is not great for football to do that. It encourages awful behaviour – I will never be rid of my belief for example that Suarez bit Chellini on purpose to force Liverpool to sell him to Barca. Something he knew they would have to do in an attempt to distance themselves from the disgrace. A transfer that otherwise they would never have allowed.
Well, Liverpool were never going to see Coutinho…and yet, it looks like he will be sold. Seems the decision to take him out the squad was taken by the club, not manager, nor player. Which I can respect. Yet the story just goes to show that players have the power now, not the clubs…He is their best player, by a country mile, for me, amongst the three truly world class attacking mids in the PL. Probably 4 actually, but Eriksen lacks consistency. De Bruyne and Hazard the others.
You have articulated the underlying point of my piece perfect. We are categorically behind many leagues and teams in terms of revenue, and that certainly limits our capacity to pay a wage packet as promising as the PL. Yes, the image of the league was almost irreparably tarnished by calciopoli, but that’s a whole different can of worms. I strongly believe in the development in our youth program and many talented youngsters have come through the ranks of our academy.
In regards to what you had to say about Bayern, I absolutely agree that they are probably the most fiscally sound club on the planet. But, how many names have Bayern signed in the past 3-4 mercatos? How many have left? A portion of the scenario comes down to, they want their man, they get their man. Period. And I think that’s something we need to strive for. Maybe it’s wages, you could certainly say that. Maybe it’s the prestige of Bayern or the German league being more reputable than calcio right now. But, the consistency they have maintained sees them absolutely obliterate domestically. You don’t see Bayern drawing or winning 1 or 2 to 0 over Hamburg, Stuttgart, or any of the middle to low table teams in the bundelsiga like we have seen Juve stumble to genoa and pescara. Maybe a bandaid of a mix of a 30 year old in the autumn of his career, and a 20 year old in the spring of his may plug the gap for a more cost effective route, but would buying one world class player and developing a reliable reserve be a more reliable solution.
I think we could go back and forth on personnel and their capabilities for hours, but I will say this in regards to that. There are certainly holes to fill. It’s not perfect yet, but we are certainly making progress. Buying world class talent instead of living in the bowman era. I see the biggest problem right now as 1 additional CB and 1 RB. I too have high hopes for De Sciglio, but I believe lichsteiner probably takes a flogging to frequently. He’s capable enough defensively and has been a loyal and consistent part of the dressing room for many years. (One of the few who has made it through all 6 scudetti if I’m not mistaken.) I certainly think he isn’t the player he was, but he’s aging and he’s a more than capable reserve player who knows our system and club inside and out.
I’ll conclude my rampant reply by saying thank you for your response and also for bringing up the fact that juventus has literally been dragged through the mud, but is somehow the only team in calcio that has dragged it back from calciopoli to being a great league again. I am furnishing a piece on that, but it’ll be a bit longer one.
Forza Juve!
Liverpool’s great manager Bill Shankly allegedly once said ‘Build the team and the stadium will build itself’. I am sure the same is true today….
The will of the player is a perfect system today, players will force their way out regardless what you say, when one wants to leave they’ll eventually get their way sooner or later.
Vidal I feel misinterpreted the situation at Juve, after 2015 he felt that was Juve’s last chance in his career, so opting for Bayern was a chance to win the CL.
Tevez told the fans from day 1 what his plan was to return home, that we can’t hold against him.
We all knew Pogba wasn’t sticking around and the figures of the sale made perfect sense as to why you’d let the transfer happen.
Dani Alves and Bonucci was a little different. The rumours of the halftime fight leaves many of us still wondering if it did happen, but for Dani Alves to immediately vanish like a fart in the wind and Bonucci forcing a move to Milan on the first day back leaves me thinking something actually happened.
I feel Bonucci said things he can’t take back and time won’t heal.
Alves is a shit disturber, he can sing and dance all he wants but it’s in his eyes…
What makes us different now is that Juventus is a team players want to play for, 2 finals in 2 years is a statement, that’s not luck.
Alex Sandro and Dybala both turned down offers from other clubs.
In 2010 Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona were all stocking up on talent, while Juve were trying to lose the cheaters brand calciopoli left Juve with, that’s all in the past now and Juve are where the other 3 were in 2010.
If a player wants to leave go ahead, the directors even though stingy at times have proved everyone wrong time and again by replacing players with other’s, some we don’t agree with but come May Juve are at the front of the pack and that’s what matters.
PSG and Man City have proved that spending the world’s riches doesn’t get you championships.
But Real Madrid and Barca have also proved it does….
Yes and no, after Real won their ninth CL, how much did they spend until the decima arrived? The arrival of Ronaldo during the Messi vs Ronaldo era has helped Real attract top players willing to sit on the bench to be part of that historic period.
Barca haven’t spent like PSG or City, or even Real, Barca dynasty started with youth players. Purchasing Ibra did nothing for them, it was a waste of €70 mil.
Neymar didn’t come cheap but was a good price for that player, just like Suarez didn’t come in with a big price tag.
Most of the players Barca buy end up being replaced by youth team players anyways.
Plus it’s Real’s way to buy the biggest names, it’s who they are, it’s always been that way and will never change…
One thing I regularly think about in regards to this is that most clubs with an exorbitant amount of money think that money solves all problems. The crippling effect that has on the ability to think critically and problem solve is enormous. If splashing cash was the ultimate solution, why wouldn’t we spend more? That would solve the problem surely, wouldn’t it? How do we reach two champions league finals in three years spending a fraction of the cost? And if money did really solve these issues for clubs, how does a team like Leicester city win the PL after a summer of 1 billion pounds of spending? And doing it with a team that barely scratches the total value of Paul Pogbas transfer? The answer is, money is not the be all end of success in football. You may grab the headlines with it, you might get the shiniest object, but you can’t buy chemistry, cohesion, determination, or the ability to problem solve and critically think. Nor, can one single player beat any 11 man team on his own. I don’t care who it is. Furthermore, if clubs continue to capitulate in the hands of petulance, every single world class talent will think if I piss enough people off here, I can go wherever I want, they’ll buy me if I prove I can act like a child. If those are the types of personalities top money can buy, take every single one of them anywhere but Juve, because if it happens once with that player, it’ll happen again. Best theoretical example I can give is this: when, or more aptly, if psg don’t return to the summit of French football or the champions league, how big of a tantrum will Neymar throw to get out and go to the next place that throws money at him with the promise of x, y, and z? And how much will that tantrum cost not only psg, but also whomever his next suitors are? This is why we need continuity of squad and the brilliant minds of our management to bring together a team, not buy the most expensive item on the market.
Travis! I was indeed reveling into the early hours here in Poland last night but I am damn sure I saw a welcome, lengthy riposte from you below which I was rather looking forward on addressing once woken and balance had been regained…am I now day-dreaming of juvefc response? Well, could be worse and is probably a less bothersome condition than other such proclivities when finding myself one or three glasses over the line…
You know, you’re absolutely right. I had written something in response to your comment and I just discovered that it was detected as spam.
Here was my response from previously:
You have articulated the underlying point of my piece perfect. We are categorically behind many leagues and teams in terms of revenue, and that certainly limits our capacity to pay a wage packet as promising as the PL. Yes, the image of the league was almost irreparably tarnished by calciopoli, but that’s a whole different can of worms. I strongly believe in the development in our youth program and many talented youngsters have come through the ranks of our academy.
In regards to what you had to say about Bayern, I absolutely agree that they are probably the most fiscally sound club on the planet. But, how many names have Bayern signed in the past 3-4 mercatos? How many have left? A portion of the scenario comes down to, they want their man, they get their man. Period. And I think that’s something we need to strive for. Maybe it’s wages, you could certainly say that. Maybe it’s the prestige of Bayern or the German league being more reputable than calcio right now. But, the consistency they have maintained sees them absolutely obliterate domestically. You don’t see Bayern drawing or winning 1 or 2 to 0 over Hamburg, Stuttgart, or any of the middle to low table teams in the bundelsiga like we have seen Juve stumble to genoa and pescara. Maybe a bandaid of a mix of a 30 year old in the autumn of his career, and a 20 year old in the spring of his may plug the gap for a more cost effective route, but would buying one world class player and developing a reliable reserve be a more reliable solution.
I think we could go back and forth on personnel and their capabilities for hours, but I will say this in regards to that. There are certainly holes to fill. It’s not perfect yet, but we are certainly making progress. Buying world class talent instead of living in the bowman era. I see the biggest problem right now as 1 additional CB and 1 RB. I too have high hopes for De Sciglio, but I believe lichsteiner probably takes a flogging to frequently. He’s capable enough defensively and has been a loyal and consistent part of the dressing room for many years. (One of the few who has made it through all 6 scudetti if I’m not mistaken.) I certainly think he isn’t the player he was, but he’s aging and he’s a more than capable reserve player who knows our system and club inside and out.
I’ll conclude my rampant reply by saying thank you for your response and also for bringing up the fact that juventus has literally been dragged through the mud, but is somehow the only team in calcio that has dragged it back from calciopoli to being a great league again. I am furnishing a piece on that, but it’ll be a bit longer one.
Forza Juve!
You are not mistaken. I had written a lengthy response and I tried to copy and paste it into a reply again. Unfortunately disqus has flagged it as spam twice now. Very disappointing because I would have appreciated your view on what I wrote.
You know, you’re absolutely right. I had written something in response to your comment and I just discovered that it was detected as spam.
Here was my response from previously:
Without going into to much depth, you have articulated the underlying point of my piece perfectly. We are categorically behind many leagues and teams in terms of revenue, and that certainly limits our capacity to pay a wage packet as promising as the PL, etc. Yes, the image of the league was almost irreparably tarnished by calciopoli, but that’s a whole different can of worms.
I strongly believe in the development in our youth program and many talented youngsters have come through the ranks of our academy.
In regards to what you had to say about Bayern, I absolutely agree that they are probably the most fiscally sound club on the planet. But, how many names have Bayern signed in the past 3-4 mercatos? How many have left?
A portion of the scenario comes down to, they want their man, they get their man. Period. And I think that’s something we need to strive for. Maybe it’s wages, you could certainly say that. Maybe it’s the prestige of Bayern or the German league being more reputable than calcio right now. But, the consistency they have maintained sees them absolutely obliterate domestically. You don’t see Bayern drawing or winning 1 or 2 to 0 over Hamburg, Stuttgart, or any of the middle to low table teams in the bundelsiga like we have seen Juve stumble to genoa and pescara.
Maybe a bandaid of a mix of a 30 year old in the autumn of his career, and a 20 year old in the spring of his may plug the gap for a more cost effective route, but would buying one world class player and developing a reliable reserve in our academy,
or someone who is out on loan be a more reliable solution? Spinnazzola, oraolini, mandragora, caldara to name a few.
My biggest concern now is that young talent is being wasted because we are consistently starting the old guard to drag us over the line.
I think we could go back and forth on personnel and their capabilities for hours, but I will say this in regards to that. There are certainly holes to fill. It’s not perfect yet, but we are certainly making progress. Buying world class talent instead of living in the bosman era. I see the biggest problem right now as 1 additional CB and 1 RB. I too have high hopes for De Sciglio, but I believe lichsteiner probably takes a flogging to frequently. He’s capable enough defensively and has been a loyal and consistent part of the dressing room for many years. (One of the few who has made it through all 6 scudetti if I’m not mistaken.) I certainly think he isn’t the player he was, but he’s aging and he’s a more than capable reserve player who knows our system and club inside and out.
I’ll conclude my rampant reply by saying thank you for your response and also for bringing up the fact that juventus has literally been dragged through the mud, but is somehow the only team in calcio that has dragged it back from calciopoli to being a great league again. I am furnishing a piece on that, but it’ll be a bit longer one.
Forza Juve!
Leicester was a once in a lifetime freak occurrence. It just so happened that all other teams were pretty much off the pace that season, combined with a Leicester team that just happened to have in it 4 great players (Schmeichal, Kante, Vardy, Mahrez) whose talent did not reflect their purchase price (but subsequently did once the season was over and Leicester have had offers / made sales against them totalling over 110 million +) .
Whilst this is similar to Juve, you can only really guarantee that formula to work across a season long campaign. History and actual results evidence seems to be showing us that in a competition where single winner take all matches feature then eventually that formula of budget buys will ultimately fail – even if at the last hurdle like we have in two finals. Sooner or later a team of higher quality in a winner takes all encounter is going to beat us. And so it has proved fairly decisively on two occasions now.
But they have spent huge sums to get the team in place. Put into context the year the players were purchased and fast forward to today with inflation. Bale, Rodriguez for example. Even going back to Modric – 27 million in 12/13 was a lot of money.
They’ve always had a team in place. Real Madrid is the iconic white shirts for good reason, they won the 2001-2002 Champions league campaign and went 12 years and over €1 billion spent on players breaking the transfer fee 3 times during that period, they’ve shown that yes money helps a lot, but the chemistry of the players is something that happens, Barcelona’s dynasty was based on a team of players that grew up together, that’s pure friendship that fed the chemistry in that squad, money spent during those years interfered with the chemistry that was there.
For Real after 12 years of buying every big name and stocking every position with 2 world class players, their money finally prevailed,
City finally made a semi finals and PSG made the quarters one year ( I think) how much have they spent? How much has United spent since Fergie retired? Compare that to Atletico and Juve who spent a fraction to what PSG and City have spent and are going further in Europe regularly than PSG or City.
We’re clearly on different sides of the river, I see teams spending all sorts and winning nothing, Real can in some ways be the exception, but it took 12 years and a shit ton of money to show it can be done.
Juve are doing it without spending large sums like PSG or City, they splurged on higuain but after that every other player was within market value and not over priced, and most of the time free transfers, Bayern also have shown spending large is unnecessary, I might be wrong but I think €50 mil is their largest transfer sum, and look at the team they’ve put together!
But in the end, fuck them all, this is the year Juve do it for Gigi! Forza Juve!
Dear Travis!
Thanks for the article even though I don’t completely share your opinion. I am of the belief that if a player wishes to leave the team, it’s counterproductive to force him to stay. That’s like if you don’t want to work a a company because you’re not enjoying it. In such cases you won’t work heartedly if you are forced to that. Do we really need such lads? Isn’t that better to let the player go and cash in some, instead of putting him on the bench because he doesn’t do what is expected from him and finally when the contract is out loosing him for nothign? What is important is that to create an environment where players feel at home and put their hearts for the play and the team. And what is Juve concerned they have one of the best environments in the world (I guess we all agree on this). But issues may always arose depending on many different aspects like as personality, family, money and so on and on. Shortly put, personally I think the way Juventus has chosen is the better of the two. And I think that Juve is on a very good path where players (the best of the loyal ones) choose to stay and form a sustainable core as you require!
Thanks again