Juventus

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has said the team made "soft errors" in their surprise 2-1 loss to Hellas Verona on Saturday. 

The Bianconeri opened the scoring through Cristiano Ronaldo in the second period and appeared on course for a routine victory in Serie A. However, the home side rallied, with goals from Fabio Borini and Giampaolo Pazzini handing Verona a memorable win.

Afterward, Sarri said he was unhappy with various facets of his team's play, noting the lack of focus from his players at critical points and the difference between the home and away form of the team, per Football Italia:

"Evidently we have different performances and results when comparing home form to away. It was a difficult game, we knew it would be and that Verona would make us suffer early on.

"We held out well, hit the woodwork twice, took the lead, but cannot drop points with such soft errors. The first goal was inexplicable, if we want Juventus to win games, we cannot keep making errors caused by a superficial attitude."

"... The mind is the most important thing, because if that is detached then you won't be on the mark tactically. If your mind is also not at 100 per cent, then the physique won't follow."

Ronaldo did brilliantly to give Juventus the lead, leading a counter-attack and finishing with precision:

🙌 BRILLIANT GOAL FROM CRISTIANO RONALDO!

👏 Ronaldo picks the ball up inside his own half, plays a quick one-two, and then has the composure required to finish from there

⚫⚪ Juve find the breakthrough pic.twitter.com/UggV7jtggi

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 8, 2020

However, Juventus allowed the home side to get back into the game and Pazzini was able to convert the winner from the spot with four minutes left on the clock:

😱 UNBELIEVABLE SCENES IN VERONA!

💛💙 Pazzini converts the penalty, and Hellas Verona have come from behind to lead Juventus 2-1! pic.twitter.com/bCkiReVVdu

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 8, 2020

The defeat for the defending champions keeps the fight for this season's Scudetto fascinating, with Juventus under pressure from Inter Milan and Lazio.

Inter can go level on points with Sarri's side with a win over their local rivals AC Milan on Sunday, while Lazio can close to within a point of the leaders if they win at Parma on the same day.

Sarri's frustration with his players is understandable, as they made some basic mistakes after taking the lead. Miralem Pjanic lost possession cheaply for Verona's equaliser, while Leonardo Bonucci handled in the area to concede the penalty.

Juventus' longstanding dominance of Serie A now appears to be under serious threat. EiF Soccer said the team has performed poorly for long spells of the season:

Juventus being in first place in the Série A is probably one of the most deceptive things in football this season.

Juve have looked awful in quite a lot of their games this season and have been carried by CR7 and Dybala throughout.

“Sarri ball” is looking like “Pullis ball.”

— EiF (@EiFSoccer) February 8, 2020

Broadcaster Mina Rzouki said important lessons should be taken from the defeat:

Sometimes a loss can be an excellent blessing in disguise if you learn from your mistakes but will Juve’s management learn from this? Did they make the right choices as they’re no longer cheap choices but rather expensive ones.

— Mina Rzouki (@Minarzouki) February 8, 2020

Following their late collapse at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Juventus will now have to watch on nervously as Inter and Lazio seek to close the gap.

For Sarri and his team, the big challenges keep on coming, as they are in action on Thursday at the San Siro against AC Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final. That encounter would be an ideal time for the Bianconeri to start improving their form away from Turin.

Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici said on Saturday that the Italian champions have begun talks with forward Paulo Dybala over a new contract. 

Paratici told DAZN (h/t Football Italia) that the club spoke with the Argentina international in January and agreed to continue negotiations later in 2020:

"He is a fundamental player, the Juventus Number 10, we know what he represents for us and his value. We've already had some initial discussions before January, agreed to talk further nearer to the end of the season, but having said that, we have a large squad with a great deal of competition for places."

Dybala's current deal with the Turin giants expires in June 2022. He told Sid Lowe at the Guardian that he "was close to leaving" Juve in summer 2019 after receiving approaches from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur:

Paulo Dybala reveals he almost left Juventus last summer. pic.twitter.com/cdzOC49nqf

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 25, 2020

The 26-year-old ended up staying in Turin and has enjoyed a strong season under new manager Maurizio Sarri. He has 11 goals in 28 appearances for the club, his most recent goals coming in a 4-0 win over Udinese:

💎 How to @PauDybala_JR:

Step 1: Receive the ball ⚽️
Step 2: Score a worldie! 🤯
Step 3. Celebrate like a boss 😎#ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/IkOUni89LS

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) January 30, 2020

Dybala's form has prompted speculation Juventus will look to secure his long-term future with a new and improved contract.

Tuttosport (h/t Nathan Salt for MailOnline) have reported that Juve have offered Dybala a new five-year deal and are willing to meet his wage demands of €10 million (£8.5 million) per season.

Dybala certainly seems to be enjoying life under Sarri after struggling for form under previous manager Massimiliano Allegri. He told El Pais (h/t Football Italia) that "it's more fun" to play under Sarri and that he now feels "like an important player."

Sarri has started Dybala on the bench for games against Fiorentina and Hellas Verona but has still made it clear how highly he rates the forward. He told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) that "leaving Paulo Dybala out is practically blasphemy" but explained he can not play all his attackers at once.

Italian football writer Carlo Garganese highlighted Dybala's importance to Juve:

Juventus have played badly all season. It’s a miracle they‘re top. Only individual moments of brilliance from Ronaldo & Dybala have saved them. Unless Juve suddenly improve massively, which is unlikely, they’ve ZERO chance of winning the CL. And the Scudetto will be a fight too

— Carlo Garganese (@carlogarganese) February 8, 2020

Dybala has looked back to his best under Sarri this season and at 26 still has plenty left to offer the club. It's no surprise to hear Juve are looking to secure his long-term future, particularly given the interest in his services from Premier League clubs last summer.

The agent of Chelsea's Jorginho has doubled down on his stance that the midfielder might leave Stamford Bridge this summer, saying "anything could happen" in regard to a transfer to Juventus.

The 28-year-old previously played under coach Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea and Napoli, and the tactician's move to Juve in 2019 has led to speculation of another reunion, this time in Turin.

Jorginho's representative, Joao Santos, told TuttoJuve.com (h/t Football Italia) they are ready to consider their options "from Italy, France and England," singling out Juventus as a desirable destination:

"Anything can happen in the transfer market. I said 'why not?' to Juventus because Jorginho has a three-year contract with Chelsea, so the priority is clearly to remain there, but we could also evaluate leaving the club in July.

"In that case, if this were to happen, we'd be ready to consider the various proposals that will arrive from Italy, France and England.

"Why shouldn't it be possible to join Juventus? They are the most important club in Italy, the one that has won the most in recent years. We wouldn't say no to the Bianconeri."

Santos spoke to TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Football Italia) earlier in February and indicated Jorginho is ready to listen to offers, though his praise for the Bianconeri appeared clearer on this occasion.

Sarri was key to Jorginho's development at the Stadio San Paolo and gifted the player a more prominent place than his predecessor and the manager who signed him, Rafa Benitez.

Juventus signed central midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot on free transfers last summer following their respective exits from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. Their midfield already looks somewhat crowded with Miralem Pjanic, Rodrigo Bentancur, Blaise Matuidi and Sami Khedira also among his selection.

Emre Can could free up space should he join Borussia Dortmund on a permanent deal in the summer after he agreed a loan move to the German giants.

Jorginho joined Chelsea in July 2018 for £50 million, although some might argue the Italy metronome hasn't justified such a hefty expense after almost two years in west London.

His signing was considered critical by Sarri soon after his move to Chelsea, who beat Arsenal to lift the UEFA Europa League title in Jorginho's first (and the manager's only) season with the Blues.

Frank Lampard's midfield makeup has been a hot topic of debate this season, with N'Golo Kante playing in a less familiar role while the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley have contested for starts.

Jorginho has at the very least received plaudits for his quirky-but-effective penalty technique:

Both Juventus and Chelsea will feature in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 this term—against Lyon and Bayern Munich, respectively—but there's little doubting the Bianconeri's immediate prospects look brighter.

The opportunity to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. as perennial major trophy contenders is an obvious allure, although Jorginho appears open to considering his options across Europe's top divisions.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he believed he would be a "fisherman in Madeira" when he turned 35, rather than the footballer he became. 

The Juventus forward celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, and the Portugal international told Canal 11 (h/t Peter Hanson of Goal) he didn't believe he would experience the illustrious career he's had.

"At 35? I thought I was going to be a fisherman in Madeira," Ronaldo said. "This never came into my mind. I wanted to be a professional footballer, but I didn't think I was going to win everything I've won."

Ronaldo made his debut in 2002 for Sporting CP before joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United the following year.

Six years at Old Trafford saw Ronaldo become a global superstar, with United winning three Premier League titles, two EFL Cups, one FA Cup and the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League.

Ronaldo was also named the 2008 Ballon d'Or winner before joining Real Madrid for a world-record fee in 2009.

More success was to follow, with four Champions League crowns for Ronaldo in Spain, and two La Liga title victories. Ronaldo collected four more Ballon d'Or awards during this incredible period.

International success with his country also blossomed when Portugal won Euro 2016 and last season's inaugural UEFA Nations League. 

Ronaldo added he believes he can win Europe's biggest club trophy for a sixth time after his 2018 transfer to Juve.

"To play at Juventus gives me the chance to win it again," Ronaldo said. "We know it's difficult, it depends on many factors, but it's possible because we have a good team. We must take one step at a time going forward."

The Portuguese won Serie A at his first attempt last term, scoring 21 goals and providing eight assists in 31 league appearances.

Despite his age, Ronaldo continues to be a huge individual force in world football, and the forward has scored 19 goals in 19 Serie A starts this season—with Juve once again on top of the table.

Juventus centre-back Matthijs De Ligt has been compared to a Rembrandt painting by his agent Mino Raiola. 

The Dutchman is in his debut season at Juve after his summer move from Ajax for £67.5 million.

Still only 20, De Ligt took a few months to settle in Turin, but he has been excellent recently and was on the scoresheet in Juve's 3-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday that kept them at the top of Serie A:

After Matchday 22 here's how the #SerieATIM standings looks like! ⁰#WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/nGvDPJaCTB

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 3, 2020

As far as Raiola is concerned, De Ligt is worthy of comparison to a masterpiece by his compatriot Rembrandt, while the Italian-born agent also provided an artistic equivalent for one of his other clients, Paul Pogba, per Belgian outlet Sport Voetbal Magazine (h/t Football Italia):

"Paul Pogba is like a Basquiat painting. Jean-Michel Basquiat was an expressive artist, a little rebellious, just like Paul.

"As for De Ligt, he is like a Rembrandt and is proving that with his latest performances. He is becoming [Rembrandt's most famous painting] The Night Watch before my very eyes.

"I heard reports he was struggling with Juventus, but I see Matthijs only growing. It's his first time at a foreign club, with a different culture, while he had only been accustomed to Ajax. De Ligt is like an oil tanker, you can't expect him to just suddenly change career direction in an instant. He is progressing constantly and, once he decides his destination, there is no stopping him."

De Ligt became a world star last season when, as Ajax captain, he led the Dutch club to a domestic double and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

His rise to prominence led to an inevitable increase in scrutiny, and his early performances for Juve received plenty of criticism:

I know they were very expensive purchases, but amazing to see the constant prisoner of the moment takes on both De Ligt & Lukaku- they’ve gone from being great purchases to busts like 4 times already with some

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) December 16, 2019

Competition for his place duly emerged in the shape of Merih Demiral, who then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

De Ligt and the 21-year-old Turkey international look to be the future of Juventus' defence given Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are both now in their 30s:

https://twitter.com/ReverschPass/status/1216477199441825792

De Ligt's youth is often forgotten because of his immense maturity on the pitch and the fact he was given a leadership role at Ajax when he was still a teenager.

But centre-backs typically do not hit their prime until their late 20s, an exciting prospect for Juve given how consistent the Netherlands international already is.

De Ligt could potentially have won league titles in two different countries before he is 21, and Juve are also among the favourites to go all the way in the Champions League this term.

They face Lyon in the first leg of their last-16 tie on February 26. 

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini returned to training on Tuesday, taking part in his first group session since suffering a major knee injury in August.

The defender shared these photos on Twitter:

In campo con i miei compagni, sensazione bellissima! ⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/tF0IyomdOn

— Giorgio Chiellini (@chiellini) February 4, 2020

The club also featured him as the lead image in their training-session roundup. On Monday, they added him to the UEFA Champions League squad list in place of the injured Merih Demiral.

The 35-year-old has been out since the opening day of the Serie A season. He scored in the win over Parma but also picked up a knee injury:

His absence thrust summer arrival Matthijs de Ligt into the starting XI much sooner than anticipated, and the former Ajax man struggled greatly in his first few months at the club. The 20-year-old has turned things around since, however, and has been one of the team's top performers of late.

Fellow summer arrival Demiral, formerly of Sassuolo, also got his chance and had a superb run of form before succumbing to a knee injury of his own. The 21-year-old's season is likely over.

While the two youngsters have performed admirably, Chiellini's return is undoubtedly a welcome sight. The veteran, who has made 384 appearances for Juve, has long been among the best defenders in Italy, compensating for his diminishing athleticism with excellent vision and positional play.

He and Leonardo Bonucci have formed a fantastic partnership at the back for both club and country, and while the latter has stepped up big since Chiellini went down, he'll undoubtedly be happy to see his longtime team-mate return.

Given De Ligt's strong play, Juventus will likely be prudent with Chiellini in the coming weeks. The Serie A leaders have crucial matches coming up against second-placed Inter Milan on March 1 and an UEFA Champions League tie with Lyon on February 26 and March 17.

Ideally Chiellini would be able to play in the contest against Inter, but it would make little sense to rush the team captain back after such a lengthy layoff.

Two supporters who attended Juventus' pre-season friendly with the K League All Stars have been awarded compensation after Cristiano Ronaldo did not feature in the match.

The July clash in Seoul, South Korea, finished 3-3, with Juventus fielding 20 players in total during the game.  Ronaldo was the only member of the squad not to feature.

Per Alex Young of the Evening Standard, The Fasta Inc, who organised the match, promised that Ronaldo would play at least 45 minutes, although Juventus said he was unavailable because of "muscle fatigue."

According to Reuters (h/t Young), with the Portuguese icon not involved, two supporters successfully recovered £46 for their match tickets and a further £194 for "mental anguish."

There are reportedly 87 other plaintiffs suing over Ronaldo's absence.

Ronaldo did start in Juventus' two other matches on their Asia tour, a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and penalty-shootout success against Inter Milan.

Juventus signed Ronaldo, who is one of the biggest sporting names on the planet, in the summer of 2018. 

The club won an eighth consecutive Serie A title in the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man's first season at the club. Juventus lead Inter by three points in the race for this season's prize, and Ronaldo's brace of penalties on Sunday against Fiorentina in a 3-0 win means he has scored in the last nine consecutive league matches.

Juventus moved six points clear at the top of Serie A on Sunday, with Cristiano Ronaldo's two penalties helping them beat Fiorentina 3-0 at the Allianz Stadium. 

At the end of each half, Juventus were awarded penalties after VAR checks and both times Ronaldo was able to convert.

The first goal made it nine Serie A games in succession in which the Portuguese has netted:

⚡ @Cristiano scores in his ninth league game in a row pic.twitter.com/bkFGG3m0pJ

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 2, 2020

Matthijs de Ligt got in on the act too, with his late strike adding some gloss to the scoreline of what was a tight game for long spells.

The result puts the pressure on Inter Milan to respond later in the day. Antonio Conte's side visit Udinese, seeking to chop the gap back down to three points. Meanwhile, La Viola remain down in 14th place, albeit comfortably clear of any relegation worries.

Per Italian football writer Adam Digby, Maurizio Sarri lined the team up in an attacking setup, with Douglas Costa preferred to Paulo Dybala in the forward line:

Sarri keeps his promise to get @douglascosta more involved. Look for him behind a front two rather than on the wing #JuveFiorentina https://t.co/YWtbScpXOo

— Adam Digby (@Adz77) February 2, 2020

Despite the glut of talent on show in black and white, the Bianconeri weren't able to settle into an attacking gear immediately, with Fiorentina defending with determination for the majority of the first half.

Fiorentina were actually the first team to test either goalkeeper, with Wojciech Szczesny alert to prevent a fierce strike from Federico Chiesa finding the net.

Eventually Juventus got the breakthrough thanks to an intervention from the VAR assistant Fiorentina's German Pezzella was deemed to have handled the ball and Ronaldo stepped up to convert with aplomb.

Per OptaPaolo, Ronaldo's goal saw him equal a club record held by Bianconeri legend David Trezeguet:

9 - Cristiano #Ronaldo is the first @juventusfc player to have scored in nine successive Serie A appearances since David Trezeguet in December 2005. Overwhelming.#JuventusFiorentina #SerieA

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 2, 2020

Fiorentina would have been disappointed to have conceded so close to half time and at the interval, football writer Karl Matchett said there was still something in the game for La Viola: 

Cristiano from the spot. Pezzella handball...kinda harsh, but it was outstretched from the body.

Been a nice open game though, Fiorentina can score today if they stay positive and keep those wing-backs getting forward.

— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) February 2, 2020

In the early stages of the second half, Juventus continued to control the tempo of the game, although chances were at a premium for both sides.

As a result, it was no surprise that Juventus needed another penalty to extend their advantage. This time Federico Ceccherini was deemed to have committed a foul and after an assessment by VAR, another penalty was awarded.

Just like he did in the first period, Ronaldo made no mistake from 12 yards. Per Squawka Football, since arriving in Italian football, the forward has been the most prolific player in the league:

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more Serie A goals (40) since he joined Juventus than any other player in the competition.

Just when you think he might start slowing down... pic.twitter.com/60GSXrRS9e

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 2, 2020

Juventus also noted that Ronaldo had reached a landmark number of goals in the black and white:

80' | 5️⃣0️⃣ | @CRISTIANO MAKES IT FIFTY GOALS IN ⚪️⚫️!!!!!!! #CR50#JuveFiorentina [2-0] #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/SnBx1R9Ak6

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) February 2, 2020

After defending well for long spells, Fiorentina would have been disappointed to have fallen behind to two penalties. 

When De Ligt was able to net in stoppage time, the scoreline was undoubtedly a flattering one for Juventus, who had carved out little from open play in the match. However, the strike was a deserved one for the Dutchman, who excelled at the base of the team alongside Leonardo Bonucci.

    

What's Next?

Juventus' next outing is against Verona on Saturday, while Fiorentina will host free-scoring Atalanta on the same day.

Maurizio Sarri could walk away from management permanently after his time with Juventus is up. The 61-year-old, who had a spell with Napoli before winning the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea last season and taking over at Juve in the summer, has hinted at retirement.

Ahead of leading the Bianconeri against his former team Napoli on Sunday, Sarri said, per Football Italia: "After this experience, I could even retire. We’ll see how much energy I have left by the end of it."

However, while he sounded cold on the idea of carrying on beyond his stint in Turin, Sarri did leave the door open for another job: "Pressure is not really an issue, it's about what someone expects from themselves. If you focus on the circus, then you're done for. I don't know how I'll feel when my contract expires in two years. I might even continue and it'd be a bad idea."

Sarri, who signed a three-year contract with Juve, said he's "not thinking" about returning to Naples as manager. He guided Napoli to second in Serie A during the 2017/18 season while playing an entertaining brand of possession-based football dubbed by many as 'Sarriball.'

His performances with the Partenopei were parlayed into taking the Chelsea job in 2018. Beating Arsenal 4-1 in last season's Europa League final brought Sarri the first major trophy of his career, but a return to Italy to take charge of Serie A's dominant force proved too good to resist.

Keeping Juve at the summit of the top flight has been Sarri's remit, and so far he has the Bianconeri four points ahead of nearest rivals Inter Milan.

Since the 1929/30 season, Maurizio Sarri is only the second Juve manager to win 14 of his first 15 home games in all competitions after Carlo Parola in 1960 👏👏👏#JuveRoma #CoppaItalia #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/0iIn27i5EX

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) January 22, 2020

The main focus has been establishing a cordial working relationship with star forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Things have appeared strained between the pair at times, with Ronaldo visibly angry when substituted during consecutive games back in November.

However, player and manager have since formed a bond, and Ronaldo has been excelling under Sarri, scoring six goals in his last three league matches:

🇵🇹 @Cristiano this season:

🏟 25 Games
⚽️ 19 Goals
🎯 3 Assists

👀 Maurizio Sarri on him being ‘absolutely unstoppable’. pic.twitter.com/u1DsU4wz5N

— SPORF (@Sporf) January 23, 2020

By contrast, Napoli are 12th in the table and have already replaced Carlo Ancelotti with Gennaro Gattuso in the dugout.

Sarri still has respect for his former squad, though, and isn't being fooled by the club's current mediocre standing: "I expect a difficult game, as Napoli are a strong team. Their current position in the table is strange, because they are the best in many aspects. Looking at the statistics, one feels they are destined to climb back up pretty quickly."

There is no denying the quality Napoli boast in forward areas, where Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Arkadiusz Milik can all be match-winners. Meanwhile, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly remains a rock defensively.

Despite the talent at Gattuso's disposal, Juve should still be too strong for Napoli. Sarri's group may undergo a slight change, with the idea of a swap involving full-back Mattia De Sciglio joining Paris Saint-Germain while Layvin Kurzawa goes the other way.

Totally confirmed. Kurzawa to Juventus, De Sciglio to PSG. The swap is going to be completed soon. Personal terms agreed and the two clubs are now completing last details. ⚡️🇫🇷⚪️⚫️ #PSG #Juventus #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 24, 2020

Sarri said he remains in the dark about the potential deal: "I don't know. The director told me this is an idea."

Juve's strength in depth, regularly supplemented by smart recruitment, means Sarri has a great chance to end his career on a silverware-laden high should he choose to walk away in 2022.

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala has said he came close to leaving Juventus in summer 2019 and does not know how long he will stay in Turin with the Italian champions.

Dybala told Sid Lowe at the Guardian that the club considered letting him depart after receiving approaches from Premier League sides Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

"I was close to leaving," he said, "That was in the club's thinking, I knew. Until the last minute, we were waiting."

Dybala ended up staying in Turin and has gone on to enjoy a strong campaign under new manager Maurizio Sarri. He has flourished under the Italian and has 11 goals and four assists in all competitions:

1 - Paulo #Dybala is the only Serie A player to score at least a goal in 4 different 2019/20 competitions: Serie A, Champions League, Coppa Italia, Italian Supercup. Multitasking. #JuveUdinese pic.twitter.com/kkr6eWiUoM

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 15, 2020

The Argentinian added that he is happy at Juve and that "Sarri's arrival has helped" but explained he is still unsure if his long-term future lies in Turin:

"I have two years left on my contract. That's not a short time but it's not a long one either. We'll see what plans Juventus have, if they think I might leave in the next market or if they want me to stay. That's a decision for the club to make. It’s hard to know because things change in a second."

Sarri made it clear that Dybala would be a big part of his plans when he was unveiled as Juventus manager in June, according to Italian football writer David Amoyal:

At his introductory press conference at Juve, Sarri mentioned how important Dybala and Douglas Costa would be to his project- the former been back to top form after being on trade block last summer, the latter has dominated the rare times he was healthy enough to play

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) January 22, 2020

His impressive performances for the club this season have prompted speculation that Juve could try to get Dybala to commit his long-term future to the club and sign a new deal.

Goal's Romeo Agresti reported that Dybala is set to sign until 2024 on an improved contract that will see his salary increase to approximately €10 million (£8.5 million) per year.

Dybala's fine form this season has proved Juventus made a good decision keeping hold of the 26-year-old, and they will be keen to secure his future to ward off any future approaches for their Argentina international.