The bianconeri think of him as deputy Vlahovic: he is reliable, tested also at the Champions level, but available for the role of a luxury “bench player”, a tactical weapon if necessary
If what is missing is the imagination, understood as the ability to suddenly pull out, almost independently, a decisive play, Luis Muriel may be the right answer. The Colombian, who in the days of grace is generously compared to Ronaldo the Phenomenon, and who in the less inspired ones can show limits of form and athleticism, is the idea of Juventus to give a shock to his attack. A department that has only one but imposing fixed point, Dusan Vlahovic, who is waiting for the return of the Church, but which needs alternatives and variables. Muriel can guarantee them, for the ability to play both from first and second striker (starting also outside “Morata”) and for the ability to light up suddenly, even during the race in progress. Juventus thought of him as vice-Vlahovic: he is reliable, tested at various levels (including the Champions League), but also available in the role of a luxury “bench player”, as a tactical weapon in the current match.
Few solutions
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It is a solution that Massimiliano Allegri mostly lacked in the season just ended: the coach in the first Juventus adventure had built part of his reputation even with winning changes. This year that component was missing, and the coach’s “rust” is not a possible explanation: the raw material was missing. Even the last game of the season with something up for grabs, the Coppa Italia final, showed a limitation in the Juventus squad: the absence of men capable of making the change. Kean, the first backup striker, scored his (not many) goals when he started as a starter, recording a limited impact as a substitute. In general, the bianconeri have found six paltry goals on the bench: only four teams have done worse in A.
Super sub
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Muriel is a specialist in this: since the victory is worth three points (1994-95) no one in Serie A has scored more starting from the bench: 25 goals. With Atalanta he has often unlocked complex matches, perhaps alongside the starting center-forward, Duvan Zapata. In Turin he could do the same, changing the form of the attack by acting together with Vlahovic, replacing him instead from the first minute when the Serbian needs to rest. And providing that “plus” of talent and inventions that will be lacking with the departure of Dybala. In the history of the great Juventus formations, those that brought home victories and titles, super-bench figures have often carved out important moments of glory, becoming fundamental cogs in an engine that had to run at full speed for an entire season. Michele Padovano in 1995 was brought to Turin precisely to give Marcello Lippi a spare bomber: he took away the whim of scoring, as a starter, the goal that eliminated Real Madrid and brought Juve to the Champions League semifinal. Marcelo Zalayeta, in his Juventus years, had a starting role for just over half a season. But he scored fundamental goals, also for Real, also in the Champions League. If Del Piero (who scored in every situation) commands in the rankings of goals from the bench and Iaquinta, Dybala and Di Vaio appear, Darko Kovacevic also belongs to the category of the great Juventus attacking reserves, closed by the Del Piero-Inzaghi couple, but however capable of being decisive, and Alvaro Morata in his first Juventus season, the one in which he started behind in the rankings, but which saw him protagonist in the race up to the final in Berlin.
The market
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Muriel could take the place of Morata, in the squad: compared to the Spaniard he can cost less as a price tag (10-15 million for Juventus, 15-20 for the Bergamo players) and as a salary: at the moment he earns about two million euros. At 31, an adventure at Juve can only tempt him, the opportunity to start winning is greedy and the Colombian, dry of successes, is hungry. It’s another feature that Allegri likes: pairing the necessary experience at high levels with a condition of non-fulfillment is not such a common combination to find. His season ended prematurely due to an injury, the next match could be that of the transfer market.
May 30, 2022 (change May 30, 2022 | 10:04 am)
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