Juventus

Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri has hit out at the criticism he received during his one-year spell at Chelsea last season.

The 60-year-old Italian said he was unfairly criticised for attempting to implement his philosophies at Stamford Bridge while also discussing criticism he has faced in Turin.

Per MailOnline's Kishan Vaghela, Sarri said:

"I was defined as a Taliban because I always wanted to play my football, now it's not good enough because I adapt to the different characteristics of my players.

"If I had to listen to or read the things that are said about Juventus, I would go crazy. I just get on with my work."

On his different approach at Juventus, he added: "We will improve in many aspects, but you can't go for your personal taste and against the characters you already have."

Sarri took over from Antonio Conte at Chelsea last year after three seasons with Napoli, whom he transformed into one of the most attractive attacking sides in Europe.

He finished the campaign with the Blues third in the Premier League behind Liverpool and Manchester City, and they also won the UEFA Europa League.

However, there were some low points along the way, including a 6-0 defeat at the hands of City and a loss to them on penalties in the Carabao Cup final in which goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted.

One of the biggest criticisms levelled at his side was that they lacked penetration in the final third despite dominating possession. Chelsea finished the Premier League season having scored 63 goals, the lowest tally in the top six.

At Juventus he has adapted his methods to suit his players, as Bleacher Report's Alex McGovern and football writer Kaustubh Pandey observed after Juve's 1-0 win over AC Milan earlier in November:

Great goal from Dybala to dig Juve out but relying on individual moments yet again. This side hasn’t looked convincing all season, feels like they’re *just* winning every game & could go on a slide any moment. Not playing like a Sarri team, tho he’s said we shouldn’t expect that.

— Alex McGovern (@AlexMcGovern11) November 10, 2019

It was very obvious. Sarri has become more like Juventus than vice-versa. The next game has to see starts for Dybala and Douglas. https://t.co/OLtdxedOK4

— Kaustubh Pandey (@Kaus_Pandey17) November 10, 2019

Although his side are yet to fully convince, their victory over Milan continued Sarri's excellent start in terms of results:

Loving life in Juve 😁

Maurizio Sarri has made the second best start to management in Juventus history, only Jesse Carver (W14, D2) in 1954 has won more games 👏

👉 16 games
👉 13 wins
👉 3 draws

➕ Serie A's only remaining unbeaten team 🔥
Source: @OptaPaolo pic.twitter.com/0Nu2ElKopm

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) November 12, 2019

The Bianconeri followed that up with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Atalanta on Saturday.

Football writer Matthew Santangelo agreed with Sarri's assessment that there's still room to improve:

I don’t think we’ve seen the full effect of Sarri at Juve yet. I believe Juve have another gear to hit this year, but are having trouble doing that as of late. They could be doing more with what they have.

— Matt Santangelo (@Matt_Santangelo) November 25, 2019

Sarri also enjoyed an excellent start at Chelsea and was unbeaten after 12 league matches with the Blues before the team started to falter.

The coach has a better squad to work with in Turin, though, and the players are serial winners. The Bianconeri are bidding for their ninth Serie A title in a row this season, and they're still top of the table despite not being at their best.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has warned his players to not just pay attention to Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday when they visit Juventus in the UEFA Champions League. 

Simeone is aware of the threat Ronaldo poses, but Juventus' talent does not end with him:

It's not just Ronaldo at Juventus...💡 pic.twitter.com/ZeGPY9IBdg

— GOAL (@goal) November 26, 2019

Per AS, Simeone said: "He always played really well against us. He is the No. 1, an amazing player. He always knows how to create problems to his opponents. But I don't think it will be just Ronaldo against Atletico Madrid."

He added: "It will be a great game against a very strong and demanding team."

Ronaldo did not feature against Atalanta on Saturday as he continues to nurse a knee injury, but he looks set to play on Tuesday:

I'm back 😀💪🏼 #Juventus #finoallafine pic.twitter.com/LGPxVAWeUO

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 25, 2019

The former Real Madrid man has repeatedly haunted Atletico over the years, bagging 25 goals against them.

Even a move to Italy has not stopped him doing so. He notched a hat-trick against them in the round of 16 of the Champions League last season (U.S. and UK only, respectively):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1167129267546808321

🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 54 career hat-tricks for club & country 🎩#UCL pic.twitter.com/vzOBDtzGd9

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 11, 2019

Perhaps as a result of the injury he's had, Ronaldo has been disappointing this season by his usual standards with six goals in 14 appearances in all competitions.

However, Atletico and the Champions League—in which he has 127 goals—often bring out the best in him.

Even if it doesn't on Tuesday, the Bianconeri also have the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala to call upon.

The pair came to Juve's rescue against Atalanta when the team were 1-0 down with 20 minutes remaining, per ESPN FC's Andrew Cesare:

https://twitter.com/AndrewCesare/status/1198268196555558912

Higuain has two goals and three assists in his last three Serie A matches, while he also has a goal and two assists in four Champions League games this season.

As for Dybala, he's scored in Juve's last two league games. He also has two goals and an assist in the Champions League despite playing just 107 minutes in that competition.

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala has said it's "more fun" at the club under the guidance of Maurizio Sarri and that he feels like an "important player" in the team again.

Dybala was linked with a move away from the Italian champions throughout the summer, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United said to be interested in the Argentina international.

However, Dybala stayed in Turin and has proved himself to be a useful player for the Italian coach, netting his fourth goal of the Serie A season in the 3-1 win over Atalanta on Saturday.

The forward said he's enjoying working with the former Chelsea and Napoli boss, per El Pais (h/t Football Italia):

"The way the team is led has changed. [Sarri] has a completely different way of understanding the game. For me, and maybe even the rest of the attackers, it's more fun.

"We keep the ball more and we're creating lots of chances. This gives you chances to take and do something different because you know you will get another go. You learn to play quickly and attack all the time. There are games where we create 20 chances. You can only imagine what this means for a striker."

Juventus fell behind against Atalanta, although they were able to pull their way back into the match thanks to a double from Gonzalo Higuain before Dybala then clinched the three points in added time.

Here are the highlights from what was a thrilling game in Bergamo:

Dybala added that he is content with his role in the squad and isn't trying to become something that's not natural to him.

"I feel like an important player, respected by the fans and my teammates," he said. "But I don't feel like a leader, and I'm not trying to be one."

While he may not be a leader, Dybala is showing signs of maturing since Sarri took over at the club.

With Cristiano Ronaldo out of the match due to injury, Italian football writer Adam Digby commented on the way in which the two forwards linked up:

Gonzalo Higuain's play in the build-up to that Paulo Dybala goal was just superb. He's been so good at things like that this season, this "sponda" play is something he's never really done before. Impressive stuff

— Adam Digby (@Adz77) November 23, 2019

The Forza Juventus Twitter account noted the improvement in Dybala's game this season compared to the previous one working under Massimiliano Allegri:

Paulo Dybala last season under Max Allegri:

42 Games
10 Goals
5 Assists

Paulo Dybala this season under Sarri:

13 Games
6 Goals
3 Assists

The real @PauDybala_JR is back! 👊⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/B4ixGiGb1z

— Forza Juventus (@ForzaJuveEN) November 23, 2019

Given there appeared to be a strong chance of Dybala leaving Juventus in the summer, the forward will be delighted with the way in which the season has gone.  

With Ronaldo still the main man in attack for the Bianconeri and Higuain enjoying a renaissance in Turin, Dybala is by no means guaranteed a starting spot. However, Sarri appears set to rotate his options in attack throughout the season, meaning the Juventus No. 10 will have a lot of opportunities to show what he can do.

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has said he has a "good relationship" with the club's star forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo wasn't involved in Saturday's 3-1 win over Atalanta due to injury. Before the international break, the Portuguese reacted angrily to being substituted during the clash with AC Milan, storming down the tunnel after being withdrawn from the action.

Speaking on the eve of the team's clash with Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, Sarri was asked about the dynamic between himself and Ronaldo, per Gianluca Di Marzio:

"I have a good relationship with him. If a player who won a lot gets mad, it means they still have a lot of motivation. It's been 25 years since I saw players get mad after a substitution. It doesn't surprise me. Yesterday he practiced with his teammates, he's improving, we'll evaluate him between today and tomorrow" 

Juventus were able to secure a big win on Saturday without Ronaldo, as they got the better of Atalanta 3-1 on the road.

Their forwards excelled, too, with Gonzalo Higuain grabbing a brace and Paulo Dybala on target in stoppage time.

Ronaldo is seemingly set to be involved on Tuesday when Atletico visit Turin. The two teams met in the second round of the competition last season, and the Portuguese scored a stunning hat-trick to put Juventus into the quarter-finals of the competition: 

While Juventus are on course to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages and are top of Serie A, individually Ronaldo is not enjoying his most prosperous campaign in front of goal, with just six goals scored for his club in all competitions.

Ronaldo has been used as both a left forward and a striker by Sarri so far, although the Portuguese has not been able to settle into a prolific goalscoring groove yet in 2019-20.

Given the way in which he's performed for Juventus and Real Madrid against Atletico in the past, Tuesday's contest at Allianz Stadium may be an ideal chance for him to ignite his campaign. 

   

Juventus are set to be without three key players for Tuesday's home game against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, after the Serie A giants confirmed injuries suffered by Matthijs de Ligt, Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi.

All three had problems during Saturday's 3-1 win away to Atalanta in the Italian top flight, according to Football Italia. The same source detailed how centre-back De Ligt dislocated his shoulder, while a club statement revealed tests showed substitute Douglas Costa suffered a "new lesion on his right thigh."

Meanwhile, Costa's fellow winger Bernardeschi is a doubt for the visit of Atleti because of a bruised chest.

While De Ligt was able to finish the match in Bergamo, his loss may be the most keenly felt against an Atletico attack led by Joao Felix and ex-Juve loanee Alvaro Morata. De Ligt, 20, had struggled after arriving from Ajax during the summer in a deal worth an initial £67.5 million.

However, he has steadily been showing signs of a growing comfort level with life in Turin. He recently refuted a claim from former Netherlands international Patrick Kluivert that the young defender regretted joining Juve.

De Ligt told VoetbalPrimeur (h/t MailOnline's Jack Bezants): "I don't regret the fact that I have moved to Juventus. They are saying and writing a lot of stuff. If a person like Kluivert says something like that, it might seem true, but it really is just his assumption."

De Ligt has been helping Leonardo Bonucci shore up a defence weakened by the ongoing absence of Giorgio Chiellini, who continues to recover from a torn ACL.

Matthijs de Ligt for Juventus vs. Atalanta:

• Most aerial duels won (4)
• Most tackles made (4)
• Most interceptions (3)

Big display. 💪 pic.twitter.com/FXcldox4ad

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 23, 2019

Costa isn't as integral to Juve's best starting XI, but the Brazilian's pace and eye for a pass from the flanks make him a useful impact sub. On a technical level, Costa seems to be an ideal fit for the more progressive game Maurizio Sarri has brought to the Allianz Stadium, but injuries are becoming a growing concern for the former Bayern Munich wide man.

The player who is supposed to be back at his peak under Maurizio Sarri is out injured again. For 15 days.

Douglas Costa and I'm gutted.

— Kaustubh Pandey (@Kaus_Pandey17) November 24, 2019

It's a similar story with Bernardeschi, who has only made eight starts in all competitions and scored just one goal so far this campaign. Even so, Bernardeschi's versatility helps Sarri refresh a forward line led by veterans Cristiano Ronaldo, 34, and Gonzalo Higuain, 31.

Sarri's men have already qualified from Group D of the Champions League, but top spot and a potentially softer draw in the last 16 are not yet settled. It means there is still plenty to play for against an experienced and capable Atleti side on Tuesday.

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out on Juventus' trip to Atalanta in Serie A on Saturday:

🎙 Sarri: "There is no need for clarification with @Cristiano. At certain times, the players must be left to recover and cool down. The problem is that on Tuesday he told us that he is still not well. The goal is to have him back for the #UCL."#AtalantaJuve pic.twitter.com/0EKxihGIVr

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) November 22, 2019

In the weeks prior to the international break, Ronaldo played for the Bianconeri with a knee injury. 

Ronaldo was substituted in consecutive matches for Juve, in the 82nd minute against Lokomotiv Moscow in the UEFA Champions League and, more notably, against AC Milan after just 55 minutes in Serie A.

The forward appeared unhappy to be withdrawn and left the Allianz Stadium to go home before the final whistle. He later explained he had been playing with an injury:

🗣 Ronaldo on his c̶o̶n̶t̶r̶o̶v̶e̶r̶s̶i̶a̶l̶ reactions to being subbed off at Juve:

“There was no controversy, you create controversy.

“I don't like to be replaced, but I have been playing with limits for the last three weeks. I tried to help Juventus, even playing injured." pic.twitter.com/fZoM9lK7CO

— GOAL (@goal) November 17, 2019

His knee issue did not prevent him from starting both of Portugal's UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers during the international break, though. 

Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Lithuania in the first:

He added another goal as the Selecao beat Luxembourg 2-0 in the second:

🇵🇹 Another 4 goals for Cristiano Ronaldo last week...

🔥 99 Goals in 164 Caps
🐐 31 EURO Qualifying goals - most ever
🌎 30 World Cup Qualifying goals - most ever by a European
🔝 14 International goals in 2019 - his most ever in a calendar year
#MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/2DUfo8GBrt

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) November 18, 2019

Although the 34-year-old was able to perform well against lesser opposition with Portugal, his club form has been disappointing of late; he has scored just twice for Juve since the October international break.

Leaving him out to recover could make the Italian giants more effective in the final third on Saturday.

Sarri also gave an update on who could be joining Ronaldo on the sidelines and who might feature in Bergamo, per Juventus' official website.

"I have some players with ailments. Alex Sandro's problem is less serious than it had initially seemed, while we have an adductor problem Adrien Rabiot and Juan Cuadrado. Miralem Pjanic will be available. Blaise Matuidi still feels a little pain, but he does more than that. Yesterday he played the whole training session with us, he's available."

Ronaldo's absence on Saturday gives him a chance to be fresh against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, and Juve will have a better chance of securing three points if he is fit and firing.

Juventus midfielder Emre Can has said his "situation must change" if he's to remain at the club following a fall down the pecking order since Maurizio Sarri took over as manager. 

Can, 25, has started once in all competitions for Juventus this season, leading him to suggest he'll consider a future away from Turin unless his status improves, per Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia):

"I'm still a Juventus player. Obviously I'm not satisfied with my situation, but I'm keeping my foot on the accelerator and I give 100 per cent in every training session.

"I'm trying to change my situation, no player is happy when they don't play.

"That's my situation in Turin right now, and I'll have to think about what makes the most sense to me over the winter. I certainly see myself in Turin, but the situation must change.”

The player left Liverpool in June 2018 after his contract with the Reds expired, and Can made 37 appearances across all competitions for the Bianconeri during his maiden term under Massimiliano Allegri.

However, since Sarri took charge over the summer, he's made four Serie A appearances for a combined total of 150 minutes on the pitch this campaign.

Can has kept his place in the plans of Germany coach Joachim Low despite the drop in minutes and recently featured for the national team when they secured automatic qualification to UEFA Euro 2020:

Strong win to end the european qualifying games! 🇩🇪
See you all at #euro2020 #EC23 #iCan #WeCan pic.twitter.com/YwF7vXqvwn

— Emre Can (@emrecan_) November 19, 2019

Rodrigo Bentancur, Miralem Pjanic, Blaise Matuidi, Aaron Ramsey, Adrien Rabiot and Sami Khedira each sit ahead of Can in Juve's midfield ranks, and Sarri appears settled with his current selection.

Juventus blogger Arjun Pradeep questioned the manager's rotation tactics—or lack thereof in Can's case:

I will say this.. Sarri and his staff have handled the Emre Can situation badly. We could be using him a lot more but it appears he's been alienated. Sorry, but don't tell me that Khedira gives this team more physical guarantees in 2019 than Emre Can.

— Arjun Pradeep (@IndianRegista) October 30, 2019

Calciomercato.com reported Can has a release clause of €50 million (£42.8 million), but that figure only activates at the beginning of his third season in Turin, which won't be until next summer.

That means any club interested in a January transfer window move will have to agree a fee with Juve, should they decide to cash in.

Bild reporter Christian Falk said a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain was discussed this past summer, when Rabiot completed a move from the Parc des Princes after his own contract expired:

Emre Can confirms: there were negotiations with @PSG_inside to leave @juventusfc

— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) September 4, 2019

Can has a contract with the Bianconeri that runs until the summer of 2022, and it seems unlikely he'll wait another two-and-a-half years to execute another free transfer if he wishes to leave Turin.

Sarri's side travel to Atalanta on Saturday when the Serie A leaders will seek to extend their one-point cushion at the summit, with Can hoping to make his first club appearance in almost a month.

Juventus announced on Tuesday that defender Leonardo Bonucci signed a contract extension until 2024.

The Italian champions noted on Twitter the centre-back had committed his future to the club:

OFFICIAL ✍ | @bonucci_leo19 a Bianconero until 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣!

🗞 https://t.co/HoW9l6MfT3 #Leo2024 pic.twitter.com/HOdEDj9l51

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) November 19, 2019

Deji Faremi shared an image of Bonucci signing his new contract alongside Juventus vice president Pavel Nedved:

Leonardo Bonucci has signed a new deal at Juventus that runs until 2024.

What was he smoking that time when he went to AC Milan? pic.twitter.com/Q4zmPqRdpA

— Deji Faremi (@deejayfaremi) November 19, 2019

Premier Sports summed up how influential the Italian has been in the iconic black and white jersey:

✍ Leonardo Bonucci signs contract extension with Juventus until 2024

His Juve record so far 👇

⚽ 376 games/25 goals
🏆 8 Serie A Titles
🇮🇹 3 Coppa Italia
🔝 1 time Italian Footballer of the Year

🔥 Not done yet

⚪⚫ #Leo2024 pic.twitter.com/sQ23y7tWBP

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) November 19, 2019

Per Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), Bonucci will reportedly earn an annual salary of €6 million (£5.1 million) as well as bonuses.

Football Italia added that Juan Cuadrado and Wojciech Szczesny are also expected to agree new deals.

Bonucci is in his second spell with the Turin giants and is still considered by plenty to be one of the best centre-backs in world football.

The defender left the Bianconeri in summer 2017 in surprise circumstances, joining the club's Serie A rivals AC Milan. However, he made the switch back to Juventus in summer 2018.

Per Daniella Matar of the Associated Press, Juventus appear happy to forget the transfer ever happened:

Funny that the #Juventus statement has absolutely no mention of Bonucci's season at #ACMilan 🧐🤷‍♀️ https://t.co/5kjPS44idB

— Daniella Matar (@DaniellaMatar) November 19, 2019

Overall, Bonucci has been a crucial player in a longstanding spell of dominance for the Bianconeri in the Italian game, as they've won eight league titles in succession.

Alongside Giorgio Chiellini, who is sidelined because of injury, Bonucci has helped forge an almost impenetrable back line for the team. While Chiellini is an enforcing presence, his centre-back partner is more cerebral in the way he operates, showcasing a consistent understanding of the game and razor-sharp anticipation.

The latter traits were on show recently when Juventus got the better of Lokomotiv Moscow in the UEFA Champions League:

🔳 The awareness from Bonucci 💪#UCL | @juventusfc pic.twitter.com/mrx54pq5KI

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 13, 2019

At the age of 32, Bonucci is in the prime years of his career, and with Chiellini injured, he will need to assume the role of the team's senior centre-back.

For the majority of the campaign, it appears he's set to partner Matthijs de Ligt at the back, who arrived in a big-money deal from Ajax in the summer. Daniele Rugani and Merih Demiral are the other options for manager Maurizio Sarri in the position.

Bonucci will be desperate to savour European glory with Juventus in the remaining years at the club, having twice been beaten in finals during his spells in black and white. If Juventus are to add to their two European Cup triumphs, his influence will be vital.

Former UEFA President Michel Platini hopes his former side Juventus make a move for Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe. 

The Frenchman, who played for the Italian side from 1982 to 1987, is an admirer of his compatriot.

Platini told Tuttosport (h/t Goal's Chris Burton):

"I really like Neymar. And then there's this kid who plays with him at Paris Saint-Germain, who isn't too bad himself…

"Mbappe, that's it! He could be the star over the next 10 years. I would suggest him to anyone.

"I don't know if Juventus can afford him right now, and it will be even more difficult in the future as his value will increase even more."

Mbappe only burst onto the scene in 2016, but he has enjoyed an incredible rise to the top of the game in the three years since.

He contributed 27 goals and 16 assists with Monaco, whom he helped win Ligue 1 in his one full season with the first team, before moving to PSG in 2017. He initially moved to the Parc des Princes on loan, before his stay was made permanent last year.

The 20-year-old won a domestic treble with the Parisians in his first campaign and won the third Ligue 1 title of his career last season.

He has nine goals and four assists to his name in 11 games this season, taking his respective tallies to 69 and 36 in 98 appearances.

Mbappe netted a sensational hat-trick and provided an assist off the bench in PSG's 5-0 win over Club Brugge in October:

Scouted Football hailed his performance:

Mbappé’s performance tonight perfectly encapsulated everything that makes him an exceptional athlete.

Those long-legged strides, bursting forth beyond defences; the fluid movement running diagonally across defences and the calmness in converting chance after chance. Supreme.

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) October 22, 2019

He's already tasted international glory, too, having lifted the FIFA World Cup with France last year.

The forward sparked speculation about his domestic future at the end of last season, though.

While collecting his Ligue 1 Player and Young Player of the Year awards in May, Mbappe suggested he could leave the club:

🗣 Kylian Mbappe: "I feel it's time to have more responsibility. I hope it may be Paris Saint-Germain, it will be with great pleasure, or it may be elsewhere for a new project, but I would like to say thank you."

Is this goodbye? 👋 pic.twitter.com/kK3IspgjGd

— GOAL (@goal) May 20, 2019

However, he later apologised for those comments and gave assurances he wanted to remain at the Parc des Princes:

Kylian Mbappé on his future: "I have no desire to leave. My words (at the UNFP Awards) were ambiguous, only the coach, the president & I knew what I was talking about. It was not the right time or place, I want to apologise for it. I saw it as being in the interest of the club."

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 2, 2019

If he did leave PSG, he would have his pick of Europe's elite clubs. Since the 2011-12 season, Juventus have won eight consecutive Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia trophies and reached the UEFA Champions League final twice, so a move there could appeal to the youngster.

However, as Platini noted, affording him could be an issue.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the club's record signing last year when the Bianconeri splashed out €100 million to land him, and they also pay him a reported salary of €31 million per year.

Mbappe, who would also command top wages, would likely cost more than twice what Ronaldo did. PSG spent €180 million making the Frenchman's move from Monaco permanent, and after what he has gone on to achieve at the club they'll value him much higher than that now.

To have a chance of prising him away from the French capital before the expiration of his contract in 2022, Juve would likely need to offer one of their most valuable assets as a makeweight.

Barcelona academy director Patrick Kluivert has said he thinks defender Matthijs de Ligt "slightly regrets" his decision to join Juventus this past summer after being closely linked with a transfer to the Camp Nou.

The Blaugrana announced in January they had agreed a €75 million deal to sign De Ligt's former team-mate Frenkie de Jong in the summer, but their summer raid on Ajax stars ended there. 

Kluivert—whose son, Justin, plays for AS Roma—told Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Italia) about his talks with De Ligt regarding Barcelona, as well as his belief the defender may not be content in Turin:

"I didn't personally try to convince him about joining Barcelona. 

"I only told him about the positive aspects of Barcelona as a club and city.

"We are obviously talking about a great defender, and in the end he made a choice. I think he slightly regrets it now, but that's the way it is.

"In life, you must make choices, sometimes good ones and sometimes bad. You have to learn from your decisions."

Former Ajax and Netherlands icon Kluivert spent one season at AC Milan in 1997-98 before he left for the Camp Nou, making more appearances for Barca than any other club in his career (259).

De Ligt's move to Serie A hasn't been as smooth as hoped, with his first few months at the Old Lady dotted by several glaring mistakes and lapses in defence.

The 20-year-old recently boosted his reputation, however, after he scored his first goal for the Bianconeri in a 1-0 derby victory over Torino:

Netherlands star De Ligt was highly coveted by Europe's giants following a remarkable 2018-19 campaign as Ajax captain.

James Robson of the Evening Standard said Manchester United were interested before they ended up signing Harry Maguire from Leicester City for £80 million in August:

United were convinced De Ligt was on his way to Barcelona and dropped their pursuit.
Juve didn’t#mufc

— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) July 17, 2019

Marca's Luis F. Rojo wrote in July that De Ligt's agent, Mino Raiola, was demanding exorbitant wages for his client, while Raiola's own fee from the deal is said to have been a major hurdle.

Juventus team-mate Leonardo Bonucci spoke to Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) in October and said it was "inevitable" that De Ligt will one day "become, if not the best, one of the best defenders in the world."

It didn't help De Ligt or the Bianconeri as a whole to lose veteran centre-back Giorgio Chiellini following a serious knee injury in August, robbing Maurizio Sarri of his most experienced star in defence.

Chiellini spoke to Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Football Italia) and said he expects to return to fitness "between February and March," until which De Ligt will have to keep bearing the extra burden in Juve's defence.

Bleacher Report's Alex McGovern touched upon Chiellini's absence as one unexpected obstacle in what's already been a slightly bumpy season for the Serie A leaders:

Too many underperforming individuals are underpinning this: Ronaldo’s disappearing, De Ligt struggling, Rabiot barely turned up, Ramsey often unavailable. Unexpectedly Higuain+Cuadrado two of the top performers. No doubt Chiellini’s a big miss but biggest problems are attacking.

— Alex McGovern (@AlexMcGovern11) November 10, 2019

De Ligt recently admitted to Fox Sports (h/t Goal's Robin Bairner) that he felt "invincible" at Ajax prior to his transfer, although he backed himself to improve in Italy despite a slow start.

Barcelona sit top of La Liga but have looked as though they could use some more steel in defence this season, leading Kluivert to question whether his Dutch compatriot's summer judgement was well-placed.