Football Season Guide

The absolute dominators of the Italian football in the past 7 seasons, Juventus, are not tired of winning. However, Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup are no longer enough for them as, with every passing day, the Zebras keep longing more and more for the Champions League. A trophy which keeps escaping from their hands, twice at the very last step, the final, just in the last 4 campaigns. In order to triumph in the main European competition, they decided to sign the best European, or world, player, Cristiano Ronaldo, from Real Madrid for a massive amount of cash. He is expected to lead them to the so long yearned-for 3rd Champions League. While Ronaldo at last arrived, Gianluigi Buffon had to quit the club after 19 long years. He was let go to Paris Saint Germain as, for Juventus management, he simply was no longer a reliable goalkeeper. Wojciech Szczesny will thus be the new regular, but he will have to contend with the newly-arrived Mattia Perin. More players were let go: in particular, Kwadwo Asamoah left for Inter and he will be missed as he could act both in the defence and the midfield while Stephan Lichtsteiner, one of the ageing leaders of the team, joined Arsenal. Two more departures occurred during the summer: Gonzalo Higuain, who had cost them 100 million Euros just two years before and scored 55 goals while at the Old Lady, had to be sold to Milan in order to finance Ronaldo's arrival. Moroever, the young defender Mattia Caldara, just arrived from Atalanta as his loan at the Goddess had expired, had to be sacrificed to the Devils themselves as he had to make the way for Leonardo Bonucci's return. Treated as a traitor once he left the club just one year ago, Bonny is expected to repeat the wonders done, together with Chiellini, in the heart of the defence during the previous 6 years. Joao Cancelo was signed from Valencia as a like-for-like replacement for Lichtsteiner while Leonardo Spinazzola should provide a valid alternative to Alex Sandro, provided that the latter is not let go for Marcelo from Real Madrid, at left-back. However, Juventus made another great signing for the midfield in Emre Can, who arrived as a free agent, having refused to re-sign for Liverpool. His versality should be fundamental for coach Allegri, at his 5th season in charge of the team. Juventus are still looking for another defender, a full-back and they are also dreaming of a coup for the midfield, which could be financed with Pjanic's departure.