5 Juventus players facing uncertain futures in 2022
FW Alvaro Morata
Unlike most of the other names on this list, Alvaro Morata is someone Juventus 100% want to keep. They may even want to keep him more than Paulo Dybala because Morata is the unselfish forward who doesn’t need the ball. He is the one who allows the superstars to flourish, which means he can be the starter in the Mario Mandzukic role with Dusan Vlahovic in the middle and Federico Chiesa operating on the right.
That’s not to say Morata is more important, more valuable, or, gulp, better than Dybala, but rather that Allegri and the club may have more of a soft spot for a role player who is more affordable contractually.
But therein lies the problem and the reason for Morata being in an uncertain situation beyond 2022. Affordability. Atletico Madrid still have Morata under contract as a loanee to Juve, and they seem to be stuck on a €35m asking price.
If Juventus cannot get that down, they will have to pass on Morata, which would be a tough blow to their attack. They would miss out on all that Morata does off the ball and in his link-up play, which would not be good at all for Vlahovic, who has already forged an impressive understanding with the Spaniard.
However, the reality is that the Bianconeri cannot spend €35m on Morata, a 29-year-old striker who is not prolific. As valuable – and dare I say underrated – as Morata is, that’s not a fee Juventus can justify paying for this kind of a player.
Morata should not leave Juventus. He was meant to play in Turin and does not want to leave. Unfortunately, Atleti control his destiny. Rationally, they would take less money. But with Luis Suarez declining and Joao Felix one frustrating night away from handing in a transfer request, Morata’s future in Turin is far from certain.
Next. Zaniolo should not replace Dybala. dark
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That is one of the downsides of loan deals. You can fall in love with a player, but you do not control their destiny. The hope, of course, is that Morata has some agency and would beg Atleti to help facilitate a move. In football, though, you can never fully bank on that happening if a player does not have superstar power.