Ex-Juventus Star Tipped To Give Roma A Helping Hand Ahead Of His Return To Italy
Written By Onyeka Daniel
For the past few days, reports of a potential return to Italian football for Leonardo Bonucci has dominated the news and despite protest from their fans, Roma are proceeding with the move to bring Bonucci back to the Serie A less than 6 months after he joined Union Berlin.
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Miralem Pjanic feels his ex-teammate can help Roma ‘with his experience’ but doesn’t expect to see many goals in the upcoming meeting between Giallorossi and Juventus. Pjanic has been one of the best central midfielders of the last decade in Serie A with 42 goals in 281 appearances in Italy’s top flight.
He played for Roma and Juventus before joining Barcelona in a swap deal with Arthur Melo in the summer of 2020. The 33-year-old has won four Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia with Juventus and feels the Bianconeri are the only team that can compete with Inter for the Scudetto this season.
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“Juventus are still solid and consistent, it’s not a coincidence that they are the only club keeping up with Inter,” he told Gazzetta. “I don’t think other clubs can compete for the Scudetto. I see a duel between Inter and Juventus because they are the only clubs not dropping points. The others have not been consistent. Napoli are not on the same level as last season, same as Milan, who I like, but they have too many highs and lows.”
“Inter are the favourite because they have a better-equipped team and more certainties than Juventus also because of last season’s Champions League Final,” Pjanic continued. “However, Juve are a credible candidate because not playing in any European competition can effectively give an advantage. I see a bright future for Juventus and I know from experience that when you wear the Bianconeri shirt, the target is always to win.”
Pjanic scored 19 goals in 135 appearances under Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus, more than with any other coach in his career. “Allegri is a winner and he has proved it with facts,” the midfielder said. “When he fails to win, he’s not happy at all. Moreover, he is a great communicator; he knows the targets and passes them on to the team at the beginning of the season.
“He creates a good tune with the group and he manages it really well, never complaining about absentees. He is a great motivator. Juventus may not play like Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but it doesn’t just depend on him. “Max adapts to the characteristics of his players. I played in a team with Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Gonzalo Higuain and Juan Cuadrado, so don’t tell me we were not attacking-minded.
“Max gives freedom to the players, allowing them to make the difference. We had quality and organisation, but now the coach relies more on the second thing because Juventus are lacking somebody who can win one-to-one duels and dribble the opponents.”
Pjanic played 178 games with Juventus and 185 with Roma, where he scored 30 goals across all competitions. His former clubs will meet at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday. “José Mourinho was able to find a good balance, but he is aware it won’t be easy in Turin because Juventus are in a good moment. I expect a tactical game without many goals,” said Pjanic.
“Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala have more experience, but there is talent on both sides. Lukaku and Dybala are doing slightly better [than Juventus strikers], but the team depends too much on them. This doesn’t happen at Juventus.” One of Pjanic’s ex-Juventus teammates, Bonucci, has been heavily linked with a move to the Stadio Olimpico in January and ‘Mire’ sees his possible transfer positively. “I wish the best to Leo. He’d be happy at Roma and if he joins them, he will help with his experience,” he concluded.
Meanwhile…
Stuttgart striker, Serhou Guirassy is ‘ready’ to leave his club in the January transfer window, with Milan, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all interested. The 27-year-old striker is the second most prolific Bundesliga player this season with 17 goals in 14 appearances, only second to England international Harry Kane.
His contract with VfB Stuttgart runs out in June 2026, but a €17m clause in his contract makes him one of the most sought-after strikers in the winter transfer window. According to reports, Guirassy is ready to leave Stuttgart next month to join the club that offers him the best project and salary and Milan are in the conversation alongside Spurs and United.
Read Also: Legendary Goalkeeper Praises Yann Sommer, Notes The Double Standard In Criticising Donnarumma And Maignan
Signing Guirassy in January would bring financial benefits to Milan, given that the Growth Decree is not expected to be scrapped in January, so the Rossoneri can save 50% on the player’s gross salary. At the same time, Luka Jovic is starting to adapt to life at San Siro, so the Rossoneri could wait until the summer to get a new centre forward.
Surely, the experienced Olivier Giroud, who will turn 38 next year, won’t be their starting striker in 2024-25 as the Rossoneri will sign a new forward next month or during the summer. It Is reported that Guirassy will pick his potential next club before the beginning of the AFCON, which will see his Guinea side involved in a group with Cameroon, Senegal and Gambia.
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