Rounding out our 2023-24 Juventus team previews is a position group under arguably the most pressure entering this season: the attackers. Last year was frustrating for a core that oozes potential. Can Dusan Vlahovic, Federico Chiesa and new addition Tim Weah break through this campaign?
That trio has depth behind them, barring extended injuries, and must improve upon last season’s 56 Serie A goals. The 2022-23 scoring output was Juve’s lowest mark in the league since 2009-10. Although there are still two weeks left in the transfer window, not much has changed up front aside from Weah’s signing. Despite plenty of rumors, it looks like Vlahovic and Chiesa will lead the line once again in 2023-24.
Moise Kean and Arkadiusz Milik remain while wing back Andrea Cambiaso returned from last year’s loan to Bologna. Young wingers Samuel Iling-Junior and Matías Soulé survived their own transfer rumors (so far) and hope for the opportunity to show their potential.
Serie A boasts four different winners over the last four years and this season’s title race is equally wide open. If Juventus’ attack can reach its ceiling, the club could find itself back at the top of the table. Time for a closer look at the key contributors ahead of Sunday’s opener in Udine.
All stats via FBRef.com and transfer figures via transfermarkt
Juventus’ €70 million man in 2022 hasn’t quite found his footing since moving to Turin. Vlahovic scored 17 goals in 21 matches for Fiorentina to begin 2021-22 which prompted the move. But, he produced the same total in 42 league games with the Bianconeri since.
The Serbian certainly faced an adjustment coming from Vincenzo Italiano’s attack-minded approach to Allegri’s more conservative tactics. Still, the 23-year-old remains a proven top goalscorer in Serie A. Links with Chelsea and PSG were reported over the summer, but a healthy Vlahovic can star at Juve.
Cohesion in the midfield should bolster Vlahovic’s returns as well. And, if Weah provides consistency as Juan Cuadrado’s replacement, production increases as a whole. The 3-1 preseason victory over Real Madrid gave reason for optimism in both of those areas. Positive attacking chemistry throughout culminated in Vlahovic’s 90+5′ tap in.
Juventus’ hasn’t has a 20-goal scorer in the league since Cristiano Ronaldo. If anyone on this year’s roster can reach that level, it’s Vlahovic. He finished with 10 goals in 27 Serie A appearances last year, adding three in eight Europa League outings. A year without the weight of European competition will hopefully allow the striker to return to top form and fitness.
Under pressure to perform and not lacking confidence, Vlahovic needs a strong 2023-24 if he wants to stick in Turin.
Another player pried from Fiorentina, Federico Chiesa’s time with the Bianconeri has been marred by injuries. After a productive first year with the club, the 25-year-old totaled just four league goals across the past two seasons. Limited playing time due to injury and frequent position changes led to a frustrating 2022-23 for Chiesa.
The Italian prefers life on the left wing but has deputized almost everywhere up front. Nonetheless, Allegri lined Chiesa up as the second striker throughout the preseason. Regardless of position, he needs continuity around him and an established role to flourish.
Despite his recent turbulence, Chiesa remains one of Italy’s most talented young players. There’s a reason Juve paid €65 million to make his loan from La Viola permanent last summer. The Genova native is a gifted playmaker who could bring the best out of Vlahovic as well.
Chiesa also serves to benefit from a Europe-free campaign after appearing 21 times in Serie A last year with only six starts. A struggle to gel with Allegri, paired with Chiesa’s contract expiring in 2025, makes this a defining year for his future at the club.
Liverpool exhibited interest during the window and his agent denied claims of exuberant contract demands should he sign an extension. Despite the noise, Juve continues to tread carefully under recently-appointed sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli. Giving the club’s crop of budding stars, including Chiesa, the opportunity to shine appears to be the current approach.
If Chiesa finds the form that produced 14 goals and 10 assists in all competitions during his first season in Turin, the Bianconeri attack will excel in 2023-24.
Tim Weah
Part of the American renaissance in Serie A this summer, USMNT starter Tim Weah’s signing defines Juventus’ transfer window thus far. The wing back joined for a €14 million fee from Lille, taking on the task of replacing Juan Cuadrado on the right side.
Weah’s performances in the preseason bode well for his integration into the squad. He also scored in the 3-1 win against Real Madrid, slipping behind a ball-watching defense to finish a pass from US teammate Weston McKennie. Weah’s pace and crossing ability were on display for the USMNT in his set up of Christian Pulisic’s goal against Mexico in the Nations League semis in June.
The Brooklyn-born 23-year-old faces a new challenge with a prominent role at a big club for the first time in his career. He’s strong in the counterattack and reliable, appearing in 86 Ligue 1 matches for Lille over the past three seasons.
It’s only right that his next step became Serie A, following in the footsteps of his father George Weah who won a pair of Scudetti with Milan in the 90s.
Andrea Cambiaso
Italian full back/wing back Andrea Cambiaso has yet to play in a competitive match for Juve after being loaned out to Bologna a day after signing last summer. He started 25 of 32 appearances for the Rossoblù in 2022-23 and now finds himself back at his parent club.
Cambiaso improved enough to impress Allegri, who started him in preseason friendlies against Milan and Atalanta. Typically a full back, Cambiaso lined up opposite Weah on the left with Chiesa playing up front.
The 23-year-old makes good decisions in build up and provides quality service to his forwards, collecting seven Serie A assists over the last two seasons. Cambiaso broke through at Genoa in 2021-22, appearing 26 times with 21 starts and scoring his lone career goal. This year he could have the chance to really establish himself in the league. We’ll see if he remains in the starting XI on Sunday.
Samuel Iling-Junior
Samuel Iling-Junior is the youngest player on the first team and has one of the highest upsides. He logged a mere 318 Serie A minutes in his debut season last year, but showed plenty of flashes.
The wing back picked up his first two career assists four days apart in back-to-back outings last October. The first came in a Champions League group stage loss to Benfica, contributing to two goals in just 21 minutes. Later that week he set up the winner away to Lecce just 41 seconds after coming on. But, an ankle injury in that same game slowed his momentum and it took until May to find consistent playing time again.
Both Everton and Forest apparently want to bring the shifty Englishman to the Premier League. Nothing materialized yet and a full season of Iling-Junior in Turin should excite fans. That is if he can break into the rotation on a consistent basis. Either way, expect a bright future for one of many exciting prospects in the squad.
Matìas Soulé
There’s a world where Soulé and Iling-Junior become Juve’s starting wingers of the future. A lot would have to go right, but the young Argentinian is also full of potential.
Soulé has less than 500 top flight minutes to his name as well, taking the pitch in 13 league matches last year with four from the start. The 20-year-old scored his first Serie A goal with a tap in, rebound header to cap off a 4-2 win over Sampdoria in March.
He’s done well with Juventus’ youth squads, helping lead the U19s to the semifinals of the UEFA Youth League in 2022. Soulé appeared nine times for Argentina’s youth national teams to date as well. In true Argentine footballer fashion, he’s highly skilled with the ball and embraces breaking down defenders.
Experience is what Soulé needs right now and he should pounce on any opportunity. If so, he could carve out a role as a bit of a super sub for Allegri this year.
Moise Kean
Moise Kean has been loaned out from, loaned to and permanently signed by Juventus throughout his career. The Bianconeri made his most recent loan from Everton permanent at the start of this summer for a fee of €30 million.
Another player in the squad under 25 years old and brimming with potential, Kean still seeks a true breakout season. Unfortunately, it’s hard to predict which version of the Italian international will show up each night. One minute he could be scoring three goals in two games, and the next receiving one of the fastest red cards in Serie A history. Kean was sent off 40 seconds after coming on against Roma in early March.
It was an underwhelming 2022-23 for the forward, delivering eight goals across 40 appearances in all competitions. His professional peak came in the form of 13 Ligue 1 goals in 26 games for PSG back in 2020-21.
The best case scenario for Juve is Kean becoming a reliable starting striker alongside Vlahovic and allowing Chiesa to shift back to the left wing. But, the 23-year-old realizing his grand potential remains a mystery.
Arkadiusz Milik
Former Napoli forward Arkadiusz Milik had a hot start to his Juventus career but was unable to sustain it throughout 2022-23. He scored four times in his first seven games with the club, but finished the season with nine in 39 total appearances.
At 29 years old, Milik provides experience amidst a very young group of attacking players. Best served as a backup striker, he should fill that role well this year. Despite his recent dips in form, Milik knows the league well and scored 17 Serie A goals for Napoli in 2018-19.
Juve paid €7 million in July to make the Polish international’s loan from Marseille permanent. The move ensured depth up front and a player who can spot start when Vlahovic needs a rest. And, in his last competitive outing, a 3-2 Euro qualifying loss to Moldova in June, Milik notched both a goal and an assist for Poland.
If nothing else, the elder statesmen of the front line can hopefully guide Juventus’ attackers to fulfill their potential in 2023-24.