Bayern Munich have caught us all off guard by making an approach for Juventus’ Danilo. The Brazilian’s future in Turin appeared secure, but Julian Nagelsmann’s admiration for the “experienced and reliable” full-back could’ve thrown a spanner in the works.
Juventus, though, ensured negotiations with the Bavarian behemoths never got off the ground by slapping a hefty €30m valuation on the 30-year-old. They’ve priced Bayern out of any potential deal.
However, with the Bianconeri attempting to scrape a few spare pennies together in a bid to sign their priority target this summer, Manuel Locatelli, you might be thinking why the club hasn’t been a little more open in discussions with Bayern.
Here’s why.
Why Nagelsmann wants Danilo
Bayern are in the market for a right-back this summer. With Benjamin Pavard a centre-back at heart, Joshua Kimmich exceptional in a thin midfield pivot and Bouna Sarr simply not good enough, Nagelsmann is keen to reinforce.
The Bayern boss’ admiration for Danilo undoubtedly lies deeper than the Brazilian’s mere experience and reliability. The technically proficient and versatile full-back is ideal for Nagelsmann and his typically complex and flexible system. Danilo looked at ease under a similarly meticulous manager in Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and fulfilled a tricky role in possession under Andrea Pirlo last season. In both examples, Danilo often performed an inverted full-back function.
During the 2018/19 campaign at City, the player attempted 96.3 passes per 90 minutes with a success rate of 88.1%. Over the past four seasons, his pass completion has failed to drift below 86%, while he averages 5.86 ‘progressive passes’ per 90 in the same time frame. In short, Danilo can retain possession with relative ease and is progressive when necessary.
Thus, in a possession-heavy, vertical Nagelsmann system, Danilo is a great fit. Moreover, the versatility the Brazilian boasts will have the former RB Leipzig manager salivating. The veteran’s comfortable off both flanks and proved his worth in central midfield last season. Players like Konrad Laimer and Tyler Adams were both highly venerated by Nagelsmann as a result of their respective capacities to perform a multitude of functions.
Star under Pirlo
After joining Juventus in 2019 in a swap deal that saw Joao Cancelo make the switch to Manchester City, Danilo endured an indifferent debut campaign under Maurizio Sarri. However, the 30-year-old emerged as one of the few beneficiaries of Andrea Pirlo’s shock appointment last summer.
His importance to Il Maestro was clear from the outset. In the first Serie A game of the season against Sampdoria, Danilo was crucial in allowing Pirlo’s asymmetric system to flourish. From a right-back position, he drifted infield to form a back three, allowing left-back Gianluca Frabotta to advance in what became a 3-2-5 in possession configuration. The Brazilian would also advance with the ball to distort what was a deep Samp block as he finished the contest with the most touches (121) and passes (101).
"“I thought about Danilo because he is a smart player, he can play with two touches and he knows football well,” Pirlo when expaining Danilo’s deployment in midfield."
Danilo’s significance was more subtle as the season wore on. In the season-opener, it was stark. Nevertheless, he’d finish the campaign with a goal and four assists. He also led the team with 175 progressive passes and 67.7 completed passes per 90 (among players with more than 25 appearances). Defensively, the stats fail to do him justice. Although, he did make 3.21 tackles and interceptions per 90, notch 2.53 clearances and win 65.4% of his aerial duels. While not an explosive athlete, Danilo is a diligent and composed defender.
2021/22 outlook
Despite his stellar 2020/21, Danilo’s importance to the returning Massimiliano Allegri remains unclear. The Brazilian shone at the Copa America as the Seleção were narrowly beaten by rivals Argentina in the final, and will be hopeful of another productive season this time around.
A lot depends on how Allegri wants to utilise Juan Cuadrado. It was the Italian who facilitated his switch to right-back, where he starred last season. On the opposite flank, Alex Sandro, Mattia De Sciglio (who’s also capable off both flanks) and Luca Pellegrini make up the depth chart.
So, it’s a very real possibility that Danilo could be a mere cover option for the upcoming campaign. During a time where Juve’s finances are as poor as they’ve ever been, why were they so swift to rebuff Bayern’s advance for the veteran?
Well, their valuation of the player hints at his importance. He’s a player they don’t want to let go of. Danilo’s said to be a key figure in the dressing room and he’s as reliable as they get on the field. Errors are infrequent, with consistency an ever-developing facet of his game.
Depth can’t be underestimated either. Even if Danilo isn’t a bona fide starter, competent cover for 33-year-old Cuadrado and 30-year-old Alex Sandro is paramount if Juventus want to compete on several fronts next season. Can Allegri depend on the likes of De Sciglio, Pellegrini and Koni De Winter like he can with Danilo? Of course not.
The Brazilian’s a facilitator in that he allows managers to get creative. We saw it with Pirlo last season. His versatility works in harmony with fluid and flexible systems, something the pragmatic Allegri will undoubtedly appreciate.
If he was to depart, a gaping void would be left at two positions despite Allegri’s alternative options. Danilo’s a rare profile, one that Juventus would be silly to dispose of. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like the club will make that mistake.