Max Allegri was recently asked about the future of potential free kick takers. The Juventus boss was rather cryptic about his response, and also told reporters that a new player is expected to join the club.
Here is what he had to say: “We have Cristiano [Ronaldo], who is good at shooting from distance, as well as [Paulo] Dybala, who is good from a closer range,” Allegri said.
“And soon a good right-footed player who can take freekicks could be arriving.”
A lot of media outlets have taken the profile of the potential new player as that of Miralem Pjanic making a return to Turin. The Bosnian is on his way out of Barcelona, and even though he is expected to travel to Germany with Barcelona’s pre-season squad, a deal for a move away could be negotiated soon. Pjanic was one of the designated set piece specialists while at Juventus, and he could take up the role again.
But, from a more realistic lens, the player Allegri was talking about is Manuel Locatelli of Sassuolo. The Italian midfielder is a right-footed player and also takes set pieces for Sassuolo alongside Berardi. Juventus are interested in him, and he wants a switch to Turin as well. Hence, Allegri’s comments seem more likely to indicate the arrival of Locatelli than a reunion with Pjanic.
Locatelli has attracted interest from various clubs across Europe, and a deal to Juventus now looks closer than ever before.
