Juventus Transfers: Assessing potential replacements for Alex Sandro
Cast your mind back to 2017, people. Tom Brady has just engineered the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, Donald Trump’s presidency is in its primitive stages and, most significantly, Alex Sandro is at the peak of his powers at Juventus.
Stout in defence and markedly dynamic in attack, the Brazilian was arguably the finest left-back the planet had to offer at the time.
From then on, however, it’s been an insidious demise to obscurity.
As we head into the summer of 2021, Sandro, now 30 and way beyond his best, should really be moved on if Juve really want to embrace their current – and hopefully brief – period of transition. The Brazilian can still perform at the highest level but such exhibitions are distinctly infrequent.
TuttoJuve’s reporting suggests that the Premier League, by way of Manchester United and Chelsea, could be the veteran’s next destination should he depart in the summer, with his potential exit leaving a gaping void at left-back for Juventus.
Danilo and Gianluca Frabotta are both options, but neither are viable long-term successors. Juventus have to think long-term, here, and these are four options for them to consider – and one to avoid.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
The Ukrainian’s stock is at an all-time high right now after starring in both legs of Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final triumph over Paris Saint-Germain.
Zinchenko’s versatility and capacity to perform the inverted full-back function mean he’s an invaluable asset for Pep Guardiola despite Joao Cancelo’s rise and it’ll likely take a fairly hefty fee to prise him away from the sky blue side of Manchester.
Nevertheless, this is an avenue the Bianconeri should certainly explore, especially if Andrea Pirlo remains at the helm. This season we’ve seen both Danilo and Sandro perform subtle inverted functions to aid Juve’s build-up play.
Zinchenko’s exceptional technique, equanimity in possession and tactical astuteness all stand out as notable attributes. It’d be some coup as his talents begin to promulgate to a broader audience.
Robin Gosens
Totally contrasting Zinchenko’s profile is Atalanta flyer Robin Gosens, whom Juventus are supposedly pursuing in a potential deal worth up to €40m.
It’s understood that Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt snub hasn’t deterred the German’s desire to switch Bergamo for Turin.
Nevertheless, Gosens’ arrival would be a dynamic-altering one for Pirlo, with the wing-back’s proficiency in the final third distinct. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Gosens was often the beneficiary of Atalanta’s overwhelming diamond rotations and rapid interchanges down the left flank, often finding himself in optimal positions in behind the oppositions’ defence thanks to Gasperini’s craft.
Gosens has notched a remarkable 18 goals and 13 assists since the start of the 2019/20 Serie A season. Freakish numbers for a wing-back. The German’s robust, perhaps not refined, defensively, too, but my primary concern would be his adjustment to playing in a back four with less attacking freedom.
Nuno Mendes
Youth. Youth. Youth.
18-year-old Nuno Mendes has risen to prominence in Lisbon this term after merely teasing his talent in 2019/20. He’s emerged as a key spoke in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 at left wing-back for Sporting CP, proving his worth at both ends of the pitch.
Mendes’ speed and technique help him progress the ball via determined ball carries and vertical passes, while his ability in transition is also hugely impressive. However, it’s the Portuguese’s intelligence and awareness in the defensive phase that stands him apart from other left-back talents. His skill set is certainly mature, with the potential for exponential growth distinct.
Europe’s elite will be on Mendes’ tail this summer and Juve would be wise to join the chasing pack.
Emerson Palmieri
Emerson’s endured an indifferent time of it in west London, with Juventus supposedly offering him an exit route this summer. While Emerson is an Italian international, this is a move I wouldn’t promote.
The full-back enjoyed a fine spell at Roma before his Premier League venture and while I have no doubts that Emerson will embrace a potential reunion with Calcio, he’s just too flawed to be viewed as a long-term Alex Sandro replacement. The fact that an ageing Marcos Alonso sits ahead of him in the depth chart at Chelsea should be of great concern.
The Italian’s a wing-back and only a wing-back. His defensive ineptitude and naivety have reared their ugly heads time and time again in England, with his one-vs-one defending particularly dire.
This a move that Antonio Conte and Inter should make but for Andrea Pirlo, there are superior options out there.
Luca Pellegrini
The cheap option. Luca Pellegrini has been on Juventus’ books since his switch from Roma in 2019 but has spent the last two campaigns out on loan at Cagliari and Genoa.
However, after enjoying himself in Sardinia to the extent that Juve were seriously considering him as a starter for 2020/21, injury issues have thwarted his spell at the Rossublu. The 22-year-old’s made just 11 Serie A appearances this term and registered just one goal contribution.
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Despite his injury woes, Pellegrini’s displayed enough promise in the top-tier to at least serve as a backup option for Sandro (if he remains beyond the summer) or any new arrival. There’s certainly potential for the Italian to be the Brazilian’s long-term successor, but there’s no denying that his injury-hit spell at Genoa has set him back somewhat in this regard.
Nevertheless, the dynamic full-back could emerge as a fan-favourite in Turin. He boasts that sort of skill set.