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4 reasons why Juventus are right to target Giacomo Raspadori as Paulo Dybala’s replacement

By James Cormack

OLIMPICO STADIUM, ROMA, ITALY - 2022/04/02: Giacomo Raspadori of US Sassuolo looks on during the Serie A football match between SS Lazio and US Sassuolo. SS Lazio won 2-1 over US Sassuolo. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli /Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images)
OLIMPICO STADIUM, ROMA, ITALY - 2022/04/02: Giacomo Raspadori of US Sassuolo looks on during the Serie A football match between SS Lazio and US Sassuolo. SS Lazio won 2-1 over US Sassuolo. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli /Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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Juventus have reportedly sounded out Sassuolo’s Giacomo Raspadori to replace Paulo Dybala in Turin.

Following seven years of service, Dybala will leave Juve at the end of the season as a free agent with the club unwilling to offer the player a lucrative new extension after pulling out of their initial agreement last October.

Where La Joya ends up remains a mystery, but the Argentine’s successor in Turin appears to be a much easier case to solve. Juventus have been linked with moves for AS Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo as well as Sassuolo pair Domenico Berardi and Raspadori.

And while Zaniolo remains an option for the Old Lady this summer, Raspadori is the player the club view as the romanticist to fill Dybala’s shoes at the Allianz Stadium. No pressure, eh?

4 reasons why Juventus are right to target Giacomo Raspadori as Paulo Dybala’s successor

While some might be slightly underwhelmed with the young Italian’s potential arrival considering the possibility of bringing in a more hipster name from overseas, Raspadori’s already demonstrated in his developing career that he has what it takes to blossom into a star for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Here are four reasons why Juventus are right to target Raspadori as Dybala’s replacement this summer.

1. Versatility

Raspadori can perform a variety of functions in multiple systems. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Raspadori can perform a variety of functions in multiple systems. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images) /

Massimiliano Allegri values versatility highly, and it’s something Raspadori has in abundance. According to transfermarkt, the Italian international has lined up as a centre-forward, left-winger, right-winger attacking midfielder, and a second striker throughout his career thus far.

Under Alessio Dionisi this season, Raspadori has primarily functioned off the superb Gianluca Scamacca in a 4-2-3-1, or off the left in a 4-3-3. Both are systems Allegri has deployed this season, and the 22-year-old is a fine fit for both.

"“A role in modern football is no longer a position, but a function” – Antonio Gagliardi, former Juventus assistant."

However, we shouldn’t get hung up on formations. What’s crucial is the role Raspadori plays within the system and the zones he occupies. For example, some are concerned that Raspadori won’t fit into Allegri’s 4-3-3 because, like Dybala, he isn’t a touchline winger. But, the Italian won’t be required to play off the wing. Instead, the width will be provided by a surging left-back, thus allowing Raspadori to drift inside and occupy the left half-space, where he can create and penetrate.

The 22-year-old is comfortable with occupying any zone between the lines, though, and his role off Scamacca this season has gifted him the freedom to roam and rotate with teammates. Overall, he’s comfortable performing several attacking functions, which gives Allegri scope to alternate his system when necessary.

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