Juventus’s Next Generation: Bianconeri lead the way for Italy's youth | by Daniele Longo
Last week the club completed the transfer of Genoa loanee Rolando Mandragora, who will join the Stadium for the next five years.
The 1997-born midfielder is actually playing on loan at Serie B side Pescara, and his manager Massimo Oddo has recently compared him to current PSG midfielder Thiago Motta.
Only one year ago, Juventus and Genoa were still in business as the defending Serie A champions signed the 22-year-old Stefano Sturaro.
Another hot name on Giuseppe Marotta’s agenda is Stefano Sensi. ‘The New Verratti’ is blazing a trail at Cesena, so much so the Serie B side have slapped a € 8 million price-tag on him. The 20-year-old regista could join Juve via Sassuolo.
The Bianconeri also acquired promising goalkeeper Nicola Leali from Brescia back in 2012 for € 3.8 million. The 22-year-old is currently playing for Serie A relegation strugglers Frosinone, after a first top-flight season with Cesena last term. He could well return to the Stadium in a few years' time to become Gigi Buffon’s back-up.
Alberto Brignoli (24) signed with Juve just one year ago for € 250.000. He is second in line after Emiliano Viviano at Sampdoria, but he is set to leave Turin at the end of the season alongside Vincenzo Fiorillo (25), who could join Pescara in exchange for Gianluca Lapadula.
As far as the defensive line is concerned, Juventus have no intention of selling Arsenal target Daniele Rugani, who’s probably the most promising Italian centre-back out there.
The Old Lady signed Rugani when he was still playing for Empoli Primavera team for a fee in the region of € 7 million.
The 21-year-old’s agent Daniele Torchia has recently revealed that Juventus have rejected all the offers received for their promising central defender, and that Rugani wants to remain at the club, despite a lack of playing time in the first half of the current season.
Edoardo Goldaniga, 22, took the opposite direction of Paulo Dybala last summer and he has already scored two goals in Serie A so far.
Alberto Cerri (19) and Lorenzo Rosseti (21) are two more loanee playing in Serie B for Cagliari and Cesena respectively.
Xavier Ribalta is the head of scouting, which is the real strength of the club. Fabio Paratici and Federico Cherubini’s role has been crucial to find the most promising prospects all around Italy alongside Stefano Luxoro, Giuseppe Antonaccio and Pablo Longoria.
Whilst Domenico Berardi should be the first signing for the next season, there is little doubt that Juve are leading the way for Italian youngsters.
