Where Should Dybala Go?
Where Should Dybala Go?
Being of Italian heritage and a fan of soccer, I admire the club Juventus, better known as the "Old Lady" of Italian soccer. Everyone in Italy knows the club and their reign of dominance over the rest of Serie A the last nine years. A lot of Juve's success in Italy and the Champions League has come from the tactics of former manager Massimilano Allegri and the current group of players. But with Allegri moving on from Juventus following their eighth consecutive Scudetto win, changes are coming.
Last summer, Juventus broke the bank when they paid the £105 million transfer fee for elite Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The whole culture around Juve has changed: the team has found a prolific goal scorer who has four Champions League titles under his belt and holds the record for most Champions League goals scored. Yet, Ronaldo's first season in black and white didn't meet Juve's expectations. They were knocked out of Coppa Italia by a rejuvenated Atalanta team, ending the hope of a treble year. To add salt to the wound, Ronaldo was taken down by the young and talented Ajax team in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Though they won Serie A, Juventus is seeking its first Champions League in the twenty-first century, but they have come up short again.
Juventus' squad is old. Most of their players are above the age of 30; Ronaldo is 34. With Allegri moving on, there are going to be major overhauls. But there is a chance they will be without their star central attacking midfielder, Argentine phenom Paulo Dybala. While he was a regular addition to the Starting XI in years past, this season Dybala's role was reduced heavily. He played most games at right wing/midfield, but he was often benched in favor for veteran Croatian striker Mario Manzukic and young Italian prospect Moise Kean. It seems Dybala has lost favor with the club and is fed up with being the second or even third scoring option. With Allegri leaving, what does this mean for the 26-year-old Argentine? Now that the transfer window is open, Dybala is more than likely to attract the attention of super-clubs. He has dominated Serie A for the last five years, but as declared by his brother Fabio, he is growing tired of living in Ronaldo's shadow, only scoring 10 times in 39 appearances this season. Even though Paulo has declared he isn't leaving, every soccer fan knows players and agents spread rumors to get better wages and he said it is up to Juventus to figure out if he still has a place with Ronaldo being "the guy" now. Should he decide to leave Turin, I can only see Dybala going to four certain clubs and these are the reasons why.
1) Manchester United
Amid his Juventus exit rumors, Dybala was heavily linked a move to Manchester United. The English giants are in the middle of a tough transition period and are looking to restock the squad with higher quality players. They already have decent attackers in Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, and Anthony Martial, who proved they can play beautiful football under the guidance of new manager Ole Gun Solsjkaer. When he came in as the replacement for Jose Mourinho in December, Ole looked like he could save United. The 5-1 defeat of Cardiff proved that Rashford, Lingard, and Martial could be an elite attacking force. However, the Red Devils only finished sixth in the Premier League after going on a huge losing streak at the end of the season. One of the reason was a lack of scoring from Rashford, Lingard, Romelu Lukaku, and Paul Pogba. Ole's men need help and Dybala could help fix the attacking inconsistencies they ran into. At United, Dybala would be reunited with his former Juventus teammate Pogba, where they spent 3 season together, formed a deep friendship and won Serie A three times. United are keen to hold on to Pogba as rumors spread he might on his way to La Liga in wake of the Red Devils bipolar season and the attitude of the club's higher-ups and fans. Reuniting Pogba with his Juventus teammate and close friend could keep the French midfield sensation in Manchester. The only reason why I could see not happen is because United need to fix issues on the defensive side of the ball, something that has been a problem for them since David Moyes was at the helm. But it would almost be foolish for United to pass up the opportunity to secure a player with skill like Dybala if he chooses to walk away from Juventus
2) Real Madrid
Real Madrid are looking to retool after a dismal first post-Cristiano season. They finished 3rd in La Liga, knocked out of the Copa Del Rey by Barcelona, and fell to the same Ajax team that beat Juventus in the Champions League. They also went through three manager changes before Zinedine Zidane agreed to be manager again. Real have an old club; many of their best players are well into their thirties. They would like to be start a youth movement but they also want to win now. No trophies this season means big changes are coming in the summer, especially as they search for Cristiano's replacement. It would almost be poetic for Dybala to take his talent to the Spanish capital. He would be joining a roster with talent like Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric (the most recent Ballon D'Or winner), and Toni Kroos. Dybala could serve as an ideal replacement for Gareth Bale, as the 29-year old Welshman has fallen out of favor at Real. With young players like Marco Asensio, Vincius Jr, and Brahim beginning to get more looks with the first team, additions like Dybala and Chelsea's Eden Hazard would put Real Madrid on a closer level to Lionel Messi's Barcelona.
3) Manchester City
As if the winner of Premier League the last two seasons really need more help in attack. City's arsenal already consists of Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Riyhad Mahrez, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne. It would be hard to find a place for Dybala in this squad, but David Silva's time in blue might coming to end as he ages. The Spaniard has been a main stay for manager Pep Guardiola, but the younger Portguese Bernardo Silva has proven he can hold his own in the Premier League. David finished the season with 6 goals in 35 appearances while Bernardo finished with 7 goals in 37 appearances on their way to a domestic treble season. Pep is unlikely to bench the men he trusts. The only way I see Dybala going to City is a player swap deal, perhaps for Leroy Sane. Many speculate Sane has fallen out of favor with Pep as he came off the bench and Mahrez saw more action this year at winger. Dybala could serve as David Silva or Sane's replacement but it is difficult to see him playing decent minutes with City with Bernando Silva and De Bruyne locking down midfield.
4) Barcelona
While I mentioned earlier that Dybala would want to leave Juventus to get out of the shadow Cristiano Ronaldo, I should point out a move to Barcelona would put him in a similar position. Joining Barcelona would pair Dybala with fellow Argentine Messi, but Dybala would still be the second choice behind perhaps the greatest footballer of this generation. Yet he could be the cry for help the La Liga champs need to get over their hump. In the Champions League semi-final after going up 3-0 in the first leg against Liverpool, Barca broke down under their own bravado and allowed Liverpool to come back and seem themselves through to the final. To add salt to the wound, Barca lost to Sevilla in the Copa Del Rey final, with Messi scoring the only goal. Barcelona would love to add a player like Dybala. His scoring touch and flair would be on par with his countryman Messi. Not to mention, Dybala would be adding some youth to a squad that is also starting to age. Barca would like to win the Champions League again before Messi retires but the last few seasons have seen the "Kings of Spain" falter in crucial moments. With Dybala replacing someone like Ivan Rakitic or Philippe Coutinho, the pressure could be alleviated off Messi just a bit. Dybala wouldn't necessarily by the star player for Barcelona but he would be a major attacking upgrade in the midfield for the Spanish giants.
The transfer window is open and moves are already beginning to happen. I can only speculate what decisions Dybala makes on his future. Whether he chooses to stay in Italy with Ronaldo or leave to take on another challenge, we can only wait to hear it from the man himself. Dybala is currently training with the Argentina National Team as they prepare for 2019 Copa America. His international duties will give him time to think over his future with Juventus. He might not enjoy playing behind Ronaldo or he might simply be looking for a change of scene after five seasons in North Italy.
Being of Italian heritage and a fan of soccer, I admire the club Juventus, better known as the "Old Lady" of Italian soccer. Everyone in Italy knows the club and their reign of dominance over the rest of Serie A the last nine years. A lot of Juve's success in Italy and the Champions League has come from the tactics of former manager Massimilano Allegri and the current group of players. But with Allegri moving on from Juventus following their eighth consecutive Scudetto win, changes are coming.
Last summer, Juventus broke the bank when they paid the £105 million transfer fee for elite Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo. The whole culture around Juve has changed: the team has found a prolific goal scorer who has four Champions League titles under his belt and holds the record for most Champions League goals scored. Yet, Ronaldo's first season in black and white didn't meet Juve's expectations. They were knocked out of Coppa Italia by a rejuvenated Atalanta team, ending the hope of a treble year. To add salt to the wound, Ronaldo was taken down by the young and talented Ajax team in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Though they won Serie A, Juventus is seeking its first Champions League in the twenty-first century, but they have come up short again.
Juventus' squad is old. Most of their players are above the age of 30; Ronaldo is 34. With Allegri moving on, there are going to be major overhauls. But there is a chance they will be without their star central attacking midfielder, Argentine phenom Paulo Dybala. While he was a regular addition to the Starting XI in years past, this season Dybala's role was reduced heavily. He played most games at right wing/midfield, but he was often benched in favor for veteran Croatian striker Mario Manzukic and young Italian prospect Moise Kean. It seems Dybala has lost favor with the club and is fed up with being the second or even third scoring option. With Allegri leaving, what does this mean for the 26-year-old Argentine? Now that the transfer window is open, Dybala is more than likely to attract the attention of super-clubs. He has dominated Serie A for the last five years, but as declared by his brother Fabio, he is growing tired of living in Ronaldo's shadow, only scoring 10 times in 39 appearances this season. Even though Paulo has declared he isn't leaving, every soccer fan knows players and agents spread rumors to get better wages and he said it is up to Juventus to figure out if he still has a place with Ronaldo being "the guy" now. Should he decide to leave Turin, I can only see Dybala going to four certain clubs and these are the reasons why.
1) Manchester United
Amid his Juventus exit rumors, Dybala was heavily linked a move to Manchester United. The English giants are in the middle of a tough transition period and are looking to restock the squad with higher quality players. They already have decent attackers in Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, and Anthony Martial, who proved they can play beautiful football under the guidance of new manager Ole Gun Solsjkaer. When he came in as the replacement for Jose Mourinho in December, Ole looked like he could save United. The 5-1 defeat of Cardiff proved that Rashford, Lingard, and Martial could be an elite attacking force. However, the Red Devils only finished sixth in the Premier League after going on a huge losing streak at the end of the season. One of the reason was a lack of scoring from Rashford, Lingard, Romelu Lukaku, and Paul Pogba. Ole's men need help and Dybala could help fix the attacking inconsistencies they ran into. At United, Dybala would be reunited with his former Juventus teammate Pogba, where they spent 3 season together, formed a deep friendship and won Serie A three times. United are keen to hold on to Pogba as rumors spread he might on his way to La Liga in wake of the Red Devils bipolar season and the attitude of the club's higher-ups and fans. Reuniting Pogba with his Juventus teammate and close friend could keep the French midfield sensation in Manchester. The only reason why I could see not happen is because United need to fix issues on the defensive side of the ball, something that has been a problem for them since David Moyes was at the helm. But it would almost be foolish for United to pass up the opportunity to secure a player with skill like Dybala if he chooses to walk away from Juventus2) Real Madrid
Real Madrid are looking to retool after a dismal first post-Cristiano season. They finished 3rd in La Liga, knocked out of the Copa Del Rey by Barcelona, and fell to the same Ajax team that beat Juventus in the Champions League. They also went through three manager changes before Zinedine Zidane agreed to be manager again. Real have an old club; many of their best players are well into their thirties. They would like to be start a youth movement but they also want to win now. No trophies this season means big changes are coming in the summer, especially as they search for Cristiano's replacement. It would almost be poetic for Dybala to take his talent to the Spanish capital. He would be joining a roster with talent like Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric (the most recent Ballon D'Or winner), and Toni Kroos. Dybala could serve as an ideal replacement for Gareth Bale, as the 29-year old Welshman has fallen out of favor at Real. With young players like Marco Asensio, Vincius Jr, and Brahim beginning to get more looks with the first team, additions like Dybala and Chelsea's Eden Hazard would put Real Madrid on a closer level to Lionel Messi's Barcelona.
3) Manchester City
As if the winner of Premier League the last two seasons really need more help in attack. City's arsenal already consists of Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Riyhad Mahrez, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne. It would be hard to find a place for Dybala in this squad, but David Silva's time in blue might coming to end as he ages. The Spaniard has been a main stay for manager Pep Guardiola, but the younger Portguese Bernardo Silva has proven he can hold his own in the Premier League. David finished the season with 6 goals in 35 appearances while Bernardo finished with 7 goals in 37 appearances on their way to a domestic treble season. Pep is unlikely to bench the men he trusts. The only way I see Dybala going to City is a player swap deal, perhaps for Leroy Sane. Many speculate Sane has fallen out of favor with Pep as he came off the bench and Mahrez saw more action this year at winger. Dybala could serve as David Silva or Sane's replacement but it is difficult to see him playing decent minutes with City with Bernando Silva and De Bruyne locking down midfield.
4) Barcelona
While I mentioned earlier that Dybala would want to leave Juventus to get out of the shadow Cristiano Ronaldo, I should point out a move to Barcelona would put him in a similar position. Joining Barcelona would pair Dybala with fellow Argentine Messi, but Dybala would still be the second choice behind perhaps the greatest footballer of this generation. Yet he could be the cry for help the La Liga champs need to get over their hump. In the Champions League semi-final after going up 3-0 in the first leg against Liverpool, Barca broke down under their own bravado and allowed Liverpool to come back and seem themselves through to the final. To add salt to the wound, Barca lost to Sevilla in the Copa Del Rey final, with Messi scoring the only goal. Barcelona would love to add a player like Dybala. His scoring touch and flair would be on par with his countryman Messi. Not to mention, Dybala would be adding some youth to a squad that is also starting to age. Barca would like to win the Champions League again before Messi retires but the last few seasons have seen the "Kings of Spain" falter in crucial moments. With Dybala replacing someone like Ivan Rakitic or Philippe Coutinho, the pressure could be alleviated off Messi just a bit. Dybala wouldn't necessarily by the star player for Barcelona but he would be a major attacking upgrade in the midfield for the Spanish giants.The transfer window is open and moves are already beginning to happen. I can only speculate what decisions Dybala makes on his future. Whether he chooses to stay in Italy with Ronaldo or leave to take on another challenge, we can only wait to hear it from the man himself. Dybala is currently training with the Argentina National Team as they prepare for 2019 Copa America. His international duties will give him time to think over his future with Juventus. He might not enjoy playing behind Ronaldo or he might simply be looking for a change of scene after five seasons in North Italy.
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