From Ronaldo to Kulusevski: How Juventus’ 2021-22 sales have performed
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 23 Mar 2022 22:10 GMT
- 5 min read
After winning nine Scudetti in a row, Juventus were brought crashing back down to earth last season as they could only manage a fourth-placed finish in Serie A.
With bitter rivals Inter romping to the Scudetto, Juventus knew they needed to make wholesale changes if they were to work their way back to the top.
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The current campaign has proved to be another transitional campaign for the Bianconeri but they have succeeded in selling some of their older and unsuitable players.
Here are the major players who left Juventus last summer and in January 2022, and how they have performed for their new clubs.
Cristiano Ronaldo - €15m to Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo demanded to leave Juventus in the closing days of the summer transfer window, taking the Old Lady by surprise. Initially they found it hard to replace his goals but they have since signed Dusan Vlahovic in January.
Ronaldo himself has enjoyed an excellent individual season in terms of goals – with the exception of a drought in January and February - scoring 18 times in 32 games.
However, Man Utd have endured a miserable season. They are out of all cup competitions and look unlikely to even qualify for next season’s Champions League. Ronaldo will be regretting returning to Old Trafford and is already considering whether to move again this summer.
Gianluigi Buffon – Free Transfer to Parma
Most people expected Gianluigi Buffon to retire when his Juventus contract came to an end last summer but the goalkeeping icon showed that time does not take its toll on this immortal.
He returned to former club Parma in Serie B after two decades away with the aim of taking them back to the top-flight.
Despite recently turning 44, Buffon is still playing at an impressive level. He just signed a new two-year contract and, although Parma won’t go up this year, don’t be surprised to see Buffon in Serie A again.
Merih Demiral - €3m loan with €25m option to Atalanta
This is a transfer that Juventus will probably live to regret. In January 2020, Merih Demiral tore his ACL for Juventus against Roma and he never quite rediscovered his former levels in the subsequent 18 months in Turin.
Juventus thus made the decision to loan him out to Atalanta with a €25 million option to buy. Demiral has been reborn in Bergamo, returning to the form that made him one of the most admired young defenders in Europe.
Atalanta will almost certainly make his transfer permanent and there already big clubs in Europe ready to double their option fee this summer, including Real Madrid and Man Utd.
Marko Pjaca – Loan with €7m option to Genoa
Marko Pjaca was once one of the most exciting young talents on the continent but he has never recovered from an ACL tear five years ago.
Juventus have sent him out on a series of loans but he has never shone. It has been no different in 2021-22 at Genoa.
The Croatia attacker has made 11 starts and 11 substitute appearances for the relegation strugglers, scoring only three goals. It’s unlikely he will stay at Genoa.
Dejan Kulusevski – €10m Loan with €35m option to Tottenham
Dejan Kulusevski had just been named Serie A Young Player of the Year when Juventus paid €40m to sign him from Atalanta in the summer of 2020.
He was an almighty flop in Turin under both Andrea Pirlo and Max Allegri and Juventus finally gave up on him this January.
Kulusevski has started pretty well under Tottenham coach Antonio Conte, scoring two goals and providing four assists in 11 games so far in an attacking midfield role behind Harry Kane.
Rodrigo Bentancur – €25m to Tottenham
Rodrigo Bentancur’s career at Juventus also fell away towards the end of his time in Turin and he joined Kulusevski in moving to Tottenham this January.
The Uruguayan has also made a reasonably positive start to life in London and has raised the level of a rather average Tottenham midfield.
Nevertheless, Juventus will certainly be happy with their January business as the money they stand to make from Kulusevski and Bentancur will pay for the signing of the brilliant Dusan Vlahovic.
Aaron Ramsey – On loan with €6m option to Rangers
Juventus have been trying to offload Aaron Ramsey for the last 18 months.
The Wales international has been constantly injured during his time in Turin and this season has also showed very little desire to get fit.
Juve loaned him out to Rangers in January with an option to buy but, unsurprisingly, the injury problems have continued.
He has made just one start and four appearances since moving to Ibrox. In total he has been on the pitch 117 minutes, scoring one goal.
Unless he suddenly gets fit and plays regularly, he will likely be returning to Juventus at the end of the campaign.
