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What Juventus lose if Alex Sandro leaves and how they need to replace him

What Juventus lose if Alex Sandro leaves and how they need to replace him

The moment of truth has arrived for Juventus regarding their relationship with Alex Sandro. The Brazilian left back has been on the wish list of English Premier League sides Manchester City and Chelsea since last summer. It appears that the Antonio Conte and the Blues have finally won the race for the 26 year old defender, who are said to be ready to more than double the player’s wages, which are currently set 2.8 million EUR per season with Juve. After two successful seasons in the black and white jersey, though reluctant to sell, Juventus will be ready to reinvest immediately on the profit for the former Porto man. The Bianconeri bought Alex Sandro from the Portuguese club in 2015 for 26 million EUR, and the latest numbers in the Chelsea deal are nearly 70 million, a number that would make him the most expensive defender ever.

 

For Marotta and Juventus the ball is already in motion to find a replacement as capable and consistent as the outgoing Brazilian, but this is no easy task. Alex Sandro is pretty much a thoroughbred--athletic, powerful, fast, and tireless. He has enough skill and range to play as both a full back, wing back, or even as a left midfielder. This wealth of characteristics is indeed very difficult to replace. Juve’s first moves on the market will usually be connected to the best available Italians, and both Mattia De Sciglio and Matteo Darmian lead their list. The possibility of bringing the already owned Leonardo Spinazzola from Atalanta is also an option.

 

Both De Sciglio and Darmian offer Juve the most attractive portfolios. Aged 24 and 27 years respectively, the latter can also fill in as a central defender. The versatility of Alex Sandro to play as a midfielder is lost, but the ability of both players to play on either side is gained, all the while keeping the average age of the squad the same. The other key feature is that they are freeing up a non-EU player spot with the Brazilian’s exit, and bringing in a European player would allow Juve to use that non-EU place for another incomer, namely Douglas Costa.

 

Other names linked to the Bianconeri summer market in that role have been Monaco’s Mendy, Valencia’s Cancelo, Real Madrid’s Danilo, and Southampton’s Soares. Marotta and Allegri will want to choose wisely for a position that has been a foundation of their play for the past two seasons. The trio of Asamoah, Patrice Evra, and Alex Sandro have allowed Juve to play without question or worry, up and down the left flank, with defensive cover and attacking prowess. Perhaps not since Zambrotta have Juve had a left back of Alex Sandro’s quality, and it will be interesting to learn how the Old Lady move from here. But to keep their spot among Europe’s elite, there is no question that a high quality replacement for Alex Sandro is an immediate necessity.

 

With the Bianconeri poised to profit over 30 million EUR on a sale for the Brazilian, the business side of the club can smile and know they made an intelligent investment. But the sporting side is now thrown into action, with a particular duty to find an immediate replacement for a very good player. As the dominoes of the transfer market begin to fall, rest assured Marotta will have a well thought strategy to reshape the players of the squad to keep Juve in European contention.