Juve coach Max Allegri confirms Juve intend to keep Paul Pogba at the club and believes Miralem Pjanic “improves the quality of our midfield.”
Allegri was quizzed on the arrival of Pjanic as well as the future of key players like Alvaro Morata and Paul Pogba.
“Pjanic’s arrival is that of a major player,” Allegri told Sky.
“He gives us a lot of solutions, especially on set pieces. He improves the quality of our midfield, something that isn’t easy for a great team like Juventus.
“Pjanic is one of the few players who can do it. Now it’s up to us to give him the best conditions to express himself.
“He can play in front of the defence, but also in the middle or at trequartista. I’m pleased the club made such an effort to get him.”
Turning his attention to Alvaro Morata and the uncertainty over his future, Allegri reassured supporters that Juve will try and keep the Spanish striker
“I definitely want to keep Alvaro and the club agrees with me,” Allegri told Mediaset.
“We’ll do everything to keep him, he must remain in Turin for further growth.
“Pogba? There’s a firm intention on the part of everyone not to sell him, I’m not afraid of losing him. The player is happy here, and Juve need him.
“I’m sorry that Domenico Berardi chose to remain with Sassuolo, but he’s a great player and one day he’ll play for Juventus.”
The Berardi situation is more complicated than it should be. I don’t think he would be a replacement for Morata as they play different positions, and anyway if Morata left, then it is known that we would go for another striker, so in my mind the future of Berardi and Morata shouldn’t be consequential. Say Morata is still a Juve player next season, if Berardi were to come, he would be one of five forwards, and he would probably be behind the other four. And since we will most likely play with 2 forwards, or maybe 3 once in a while in a 4-3-3, it is unlikely that Berardi would get much game time. He can just look at his old friend Zaza and see how little playing time he got, despite Zaza being very good. I can understand why he would want to stay at Sassuolo, he is so comfortable there.
But if he doesn’t make the switch to Juve this upcoming season, I have a feeling he will regret it big time. The comparison with ADP coming at 19 is appropriate. At a point in his life, Berardi will have to get out of his comfort zone if he wants to be a great player, and earn the legacy that ADP has. Juve is calling him this season, he needs to take the chance. This club won’t wait for him, it won’t wait for anyone who doesn’t want them. Who knows, Juve might sign an even better striker at the end of next season, then Berardi will have an even less of a chance of coming in. Also, if Berardi is successful at Sassuolo next season and they make the champions league spots somehow, and I hope he is successful, he might feel like staying there for another season again to try and win the Scudetto later on. And it may continue and continue, at which point Juve will have moved on from him completely. Obviously, as a Juventus supporter I want him playing with us next season and to be given a proper chance to succeed. But if he has no intention of trying, like Zaza is, then we don’t need him.
I have long been of the opinion that Berardi simply doesn’t like Juve. The reasons for this are…open to debate. A inter fan since his youth? More eager to keep playing regularly? Other offers in the shadows? Loyalty to Sassuolo and the chance to join them and lead the charge on their european adventure?
Indeed, there is no connection between Morata and Berardi. Completely different kind of players.
I highly doubt that Sassuolo will progress anywhere near champions league qualification. Roma are far more stable under Spalletti. Inter may well find a huge injection of gold. Napoli – if they can retain Higuain – will remain am ever growing threat. And as for Milan…I sincerely hope they get their act together. The league is stronger with an AC worthy of their history.
Good post, ADP!
meaning no 4-3-3, but a 4312 or 3412 or 3142 or ….. looking like the AC Milan tactic when cafu and Kaladze on the backs and the diamond in Midfield with Kaka as N°10
/ Buffon /
/Alves Bonucci Chiellini Sandro /
/ Marchisio /
/ Khedira Pogba /
/ Pjanic /
/ Dybala Mandzukic /
Yo It would be cool if juve did this (I know they never will, but it would be really interesting if they did)
Big Leo is no CM…He has sloth pace! Other than which, replace Pjanic for Bonucci…and why not eh?
Ik he’s not a dm, but he has great quality to be that dm for us, look at Barcelona and Real Madrid for example, both have quality dm Sergio busquets and casimeiro, and Real Madrid kinda won the ucl because of the def of casimeiro, bonucci could be like that for us, he has actually good amount of skill, amazing defensively, and has amazing long balls, an he’s a very intelligent person when it. One to the ball. plus we can still sustain that bbc with bonucci just dropping back and we can have that 5 in the back and then when we go attacking we go back to 433 and have better attacking options.
I completely agree with the sentiment on Berardi. I don’t think he is off the Juve mentality, even though he is a great talent. I’ve yet to read a single quote where he’s stated that he actually wants to join us. Top it off that he isn’t young anymore either, he’s had 2 seasons in serie a under his belt so I’m not sure what the issue is besides the obvious, which is that he simply doesnt want to join Juve. Given our midfield quality, I dont think he will be short of suppliers. Pogba came in at even younger age and fought his way up, same thing for Rugani which I have allot more respect for now. I just dont think Berardi has the right mentality for Juve, he reminds me allot of Cassano, personality wise. Age wise, him Rugani, Dybala, Pogba, are all within 6 months so it clearly seems like he is afraid of competition. If we can make money off him and then sell him, I would be all for it. Lets re-inforce other weak areas. I hear Luciano Vietto is on the block as well, could possibly get him at a discount. At this point I’ve completely given up on Berardi. This player is just not at Juve’s standards. Now off to my personal favorite………..BERNARDO SILVA LOL 🙂 doubt that will happen, but a man can dream.
I for one am happy Berardi is not coming. I think he is overrated and he wouldn’t add to this team. The main reason he gets so much attention is because he’s young, Italian and moderately talented during a time when Italy is having a hard time producing exciting talents.