The signings of Higuain and Pjanic mean Juve’s primary target remains Serie A dominance
Higuain, 28, broke Serie A’s scoring record last year netting 36 goals in 35 games. With Paulo Dybala who registered 19 goals (23 in all competitions) during his first season at the J Stadium, Juventus’ potential up front is simply devastating considering that Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza are the other two strikers that Max Allegri can rely on for the 2016-17 campaign (Juventus will try to sign Gabigol if one of them leave).
The signing of Higuain follows the arrivals of Dani Alves, Marko Pjaca, Medhi Benatia and Miralem Pjanic. The Bosnia and Herzegovina International put down some brilliant performances with AS Roma last term registering 12 assists and scoring as much goals, becoming the second best goal scorer of the giallorossi after Mohammed Salah (15).
Juventus’ strategy is quite clear: they want to make an assault on the Champions League without losing control on Serie A. The Old Lady has won five successive domestic titles and her primary objective is not to lose their dominance at home.
Proceedings from the sale of Pogba would have allow the Old Lady to sign almost every striker out there but, eventually, they’ve decided to invest almost € 100 million on the 28-year-old hit-man. Many critics have already disapproved the club’s choice e to invest so much money on a player who will turn 29 in December, but Higuain’s brilliant performances at Napoli mean he’s the right striker to allow the Old Lady to keep her control on Serie A.
He has scored 71 goals in 104 games in Italy’s top-flight since joining Napoli from Real Madrid in a € 38 million deal back in 2013. Despite having only registered 13 goals in 53 Champions League games, his impact on the best competition for European clubs has not to be put into doubt. Higuain has not been playing the Champions League for the last two seasons. Actually, he played in the play-off stage against Athletic Bilbao two years ago, scoring one goal in two games, whilst he found the net four times in five games in the previous campaign (his first at the club) when Napoli were eliminated from the group stage despite collecting 12 points, just as much as Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund that were also on the partenopei’s group.
His partnership with Dybala will definitely be an entertaining one, especially with the king of assists Miralem Pjanic playing behind them. The Bosia and Herzegovina international was the best assist man in Serie A alongside Paul Pogba.
Massimiliano Allegri keeps saying that Juventus’ main objective for the next season will be to keep their hands on the Serie A title. The arrivals of so many quality players in the summer, allow the Old Lady’s fans to dream of winning the Champions League for the first time after 21 years. There are many factors, however, that can influence such a tight and levelled tournament as the Champions League, whilst the best teams usually win leagues, because -9 out of 10 - it is on the long run that the best team emerge.
Juventus have not only signed two top players, but they have also signed them from last year’s most serious scudetto contenders. Pjanic was the best player for AS Roma as well as Serie A's best assist man, Higuain was the star of Napoli and is the all time's best Serie A scorer. Juventus got them both, which mean they strongly want to win the Champions League without losing what they’ve already achieved so far.
Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
