Juventus are currently on top of the Serie A, with five wins from six games. Sarri has rotated his talented squad in an excellent manner with three different formations at play. The league leaders have further managed to hold their own, despite the absence of defensive lynchpin Giorgio Chiellini which is an indication of the squad depth. While the pre-season hype surrounded the performances of Cristiano Ronaldo who publicly expressed his desire to win the UEFA Champions League, few noticed the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain following an underwhelming loan spell at Chelsea.
Several critics further went to the extent of terming Gonzalo Higuain as the first player set to be sacrificed in the summer transfer market merry go round alongside Pablo Dybala. However, the Argentine striker has given the world a glimpse of the immense talent he possesses on the field, when deployed as a centre-forward especially in vital fixtures against Napoli and Inter Milan.
Gonzalo Higuain made it difficult for Kalidou Koulibaly considered one of the best defenders in the world to make an impact, with his intelligent movement outside the penalty box and creativity. The fans duly noted his efforts as evident from their applause when he was substituted in the 76th minute. The 31-year-old further scored the winning goal against arch-rivals Inter Milan in an intense derby at San Siro.
Considering his recent exceptional performances, let’s take a look at some reasons why Gonzalo Higuain might very well determine the fortunes of Juventus this season:
1) Impressive record in League football: Higuain scored 107 league goals in 190 appearances for Real Madrid, 71 goals in 103 appearances for Napoli which further included his goal galore of 36 goals in 35 matches in the final season for Naples. His stint at Juventus hasn’t been bad at all with 40 league goals for Juventus in two seasons.
2) Relationship and Success under Sarri: Having had his best spell under Maurizio Sarri who is known for his attacking mindset, there is no reason why Higuain cannot replicate his performances at Naples. With Sarri’s open desire to play entertaining football through thick and thin in comparison to the rigid performances under Allegri, the fans would certainly enjoy watching Higuain lead the side on to glory.
3) Experience: The Argentine striker is amongst the most experienced footballers currently in world football having played for some of the best clubs in world football. While Moise Kean was considered a fine talent, the lack of experience certainly played a key role in the decision to sell the striker. Higuain’s knowledge and understanding will certainly help Juventus get out of sticky situations.
Juventus have failed to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy in recent times, despite coming close in the last few editions of the tournament. Firepower from Higuain and Ronaldo might well play a key role in bringing an end to this.
Written By: Pranav Sood
