Why Juventus shouldn’t entertain the idea of a Miralem Pjanic return

Miralem Pjanic struggling at Barcelona? Who would’ve seen that coming?!

Everyone. Literally everyone.

While there was a financial rationale for the Catalans’ swap deal with Juventus that saw Arthur Melo and Pjanic move in opposite directions, this was an exchange destined to fail from a sporting perspective.

But hey, that’s what you get when Josep Maria Bartomeu, an incompetent crook, is pulling the strings. For Barcelona, this was, perhaps, the shoddiest deal under a regime defined by pitiful transfer dealings. Before his alienation under Quique Setien, Arthur had shown immense promise under predecessor Ernesto Valverde, persistently displaying the requisite calmness and technique to thrive in Catalonia.

But they gave him up for a player seven years his senior, fresh off the back of a torrid final season at Juve and in stark decline.

Thus, it was no surprise to see Pjanic remain firmly on the periphery of Ronald Koeman’s plans of a young and vibrant Barcelona throughout his debut campaign. Overall, it was a deal that simply didn’t align with what the club are trying to achieve under the Dutchman and with the likes of Pedri and Ilaix Moriba emerging as potential stars – the former already is – at Pjanic’s position, the Bosnian doesn’t appear to have a future at the club.

However, the 31-year-old may have an escape route.

Rumoured Juventus return

Massimiliano Allegri’s sensational return to Juve ignited a few rumours in both Spanish and Italian media outlets regarding Pjanic.

Sport Mediaset (via TuttoJuve), for example, claim that Allegri is keen to reunite with the Bosnian, while Catalonian-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo (via Barça Times) report that Allegri’s appointment has opened the door for the 31-year-old to exit Catalonia for Turin.

The reliable Romeo Agresti, meanwhile, was a little coyer on a potential move. He understands that Pjanic isn’t a priority target for the club but it could be something they explore, potentially on a loan deal.

Nevertheless, there’s real substance to these rumours and they’re quickly gathering momentum.

Apex under Allegri

Pjanic’s rise to stardom at Roma meant a step up was inevitable. Juventus came calling in the summer of 2016 after the Bosnian had enjoyed a campaign in which he was the only player in Serie A with double-digit goals and assists tallies.

Paul Pogba’s departure later that summer placed greater pressure on Pjanic to shine from the outset, but such responsibility failed to faze the versatile midfielder. He notched 15 league goal contributions during his debut season at the club, with his importance to Allegri’s dominant Bianconeri only growing as Sami Khedira persistently battled injury and time began to catch up with Claudio Marchisio.

The classy Pjanic performed a deeper function – regista-like – from the start of the 2017/18 season but continued to produce at the other end of the pitch. The aforementioned season saw him wind up with 13 Serie A goal contributions and eight in 2018/19 as his regista function became more distinct.

During this pomp, there’s little denying that the diminutive Bosnian was one of Europe’s finest. A masterful technician who emanated elegance in possession. Pjanic could dictate, control and create.

While his talent was clear and on full display before he arrived at Juve, it was Allegri who allowed Pjanic’s brilliance to manifest on the grandest stages.

The demise

After making 135 appearances under Allegri and claiming seven pieces of silverware under his tutelage, Pjanic appeared destined for success as Maurizio Sarri was chosen as Allegri’s successor.

The appointment signalled a change in tact from the club. A shift in identity. Ideologue over pragmatist. Nevertheless, Pjanic was tipped to star akin to Jorginho under Sarri at Napoli. The Italian was Sarri’s metronome, making an average of 96.7 passes per game with 90.3% accuracy during his three seasons in Naples.

The technically proficient Pjanic was seemingly ideal for the role but the Bosnian’s season swiftly unravelled after a bright start. With midfield partners Khedira and Blaise Matuidi ill-suited to ‘Sarriball’, an imbalance in the middle of the park started to rear its ugly head and Pjanic’s performances faltered. Imbalance gradually evolved into utter dysfunction as Juve, while able to grind out results, proved a tough watch.

The ponderous Pjanic, meanwhile, failed to adapt to Sarri’s demanding function and by the end of the Scudetto-winning campaign, the Bianconeri were a much more efficient unit with Rodrigo Bentancur in the role with Pjanic usurped. While the Uruguayan endured a fairly torrid campaign of his own in 2020/21, he nonetheless offered superior defensive instincts and athleticism than the Bosnian.

Avoid

Pjanic’s success under Allegri will undoubtedly tempt the returning boss and there’s little questioning that the midfielder’s ability with the ball remains supreme.

But wouldn’t such a move undermine what the club are attempting to build? While the hierarchy are seemingly unaccepting of a transition phase – at least in public – their work in the transfer market combined with last season’s performance paints a picture of a supergiant at the start of a fresh cycle.

Young talent has been targeted since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 and the signing of Pjanic – even on loan – would be nothing more than a relapse. It’s a move that reeks of the short-term approach that defined Allegri’s first reign. Pjanic is a player in decline. That’s the bottom line. There are younger and simply better options for Allegri and should he introduce the 4-2-3-1 that’s been reported, a move for Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli makes even more sense.

Miralem Pjanic wasn’t the club’s future 18 months ago and he most certainly isn’t now.