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How Juventus could look next season with Matthijs De Ligt, Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot

Although Juventus are undoubtedly the most dominant football in Italian football at this moment, European supremacy is something the Bianconeri have failed to achieve since 1996.

In those 23 years, the club have appointed 12 managers and still the Champions League trophy has evaded the clutches of the Old Lady.

After Massimiliano Allegri’s departure earlier this summer, the club moved quickly to bring Maurizio Sarri back to his native country and end his Chelsea nightmare.

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Maurizio Sarri will be tasked with leading Juventus to Champions League glory
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And the former Napoli manager has wasted no time in recruiting the players he feels can help Juve reclaim their place amongst the elite.

Aaron Ramsey had already agreed to move to Turin upon the expiration of his Arsenal contract, but Adrien Rabiot had seemed set to move to Barcelona before Sarri took charge.

The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder also arrived at the Allianz Stadium on a free transfer, joining Ramsey and a trio of domestic imports.

Cristian Romero, Luca Pellegrini and Merih Demiral have all joined Juventus, but their most recent acquisition is by far the most impressive.

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Aaron Ramsey will be playing in black and white next season, as opposed to red and white
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Despite some of the biggest clubs in the world chasing him, Matthijs De Ligt touched down in Turin on Tuesday evening before signing on the dotted line just 36 hours later.

The former Ajax captain is just 19 years old and moved for a fee of £67.5m– a figure which could seem nominal in years to come.

De Ligt infamously knocked Juve out of the Champions League last season with his towering header securing a famous win for Ajax on their incredible run to the Champions League semi-finals.

But now, after speaking with Cristiano Ronaldo after the Nations League final, the centre-back will be doing his utmost to go one step further with Juventus.

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De Ligt and Ronaldo will be teammates at club level next season
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One question remains; just how will Sarri fit his squad of superstars into one team next season?
The Italian certainly has an enviable task when you look at the team he has at his disposal, but will perhaps need to show more flexibility than he did during his stint at Stamford Bridge.

Scroll down to see two potential starting XI’s for the Serie A champions next season.

Sarri’s Choice (4-3-3)

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Sarri is more than likely to stick to his tried and tested 4-3-3 formation
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The former bank manager made his name in Naples by playing a 4-3-3 formation which centred on a lone pivot at the base of midfield.

At Napoli, and then Chelsea, this player was Jorginho. The Brazilian-born midfielder acted as a metronome for both sides, with his best work often going unnoticed. Keeping possession and taking the ball in tricky situations is what the Italy international thrives on.

At Juve, it is likely this player will be Miralem Pjanic. Last season, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international maintained an incredible 92.1% pass accuracy in Serie A, also chipping in with six assists.

His composure on the ball and football intelligence will allow the more athletic Rabiot and Ramsey to play further forward and get into the box.

Up front, the main man himself is likely to start on his own, with Ronaldo changing his game completely.

No longer a flamboyant forward, the Portugal captain has stripped back all the unnecessary fat and muscle from his frame to allow him to score goals at the highest level. He is now a clinical poacher who does his best work inside the six-yard box.

Alongside club legend Girogio Chiellini, De Ligt will slide effortlessly into the back four, with Cristian Romero and Leonardo Bonucci exceptional alternatives.

Dybala Debacle (4-2-3-1)

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The new Juve manager could find himself under pressure to start Paulo Dybala in his XI
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When you utter the name Paulo Dybala across Europe, fans immediately think of the Argentina international as one of the best in the world.

However, the 25-year-old endured a tough season last year and could well be on his way out of Turin. Despite the heavy marketing around the forward, his substance has failed to match up to the style,

He scored just five goals and registered four assists in Serie A last season, with Juve romping to the title without him. While there is no doubting the No.10’s talent, consistency is a trait he must add to his game if he is to start under Sarri.

In midfield, Pjanic could be joined in his deeper role by either Adrien Rabiot or Emre Can, with both midfielders more suited to a deeper role than Ramsey.

And in the wide positions, Juan Cuadrado and Douglas Costa are direct and capable of supplying constant service into the box for Ronaldo. Federico Bernadeschi will also be chomping at the bit to get into Sarri’s plans, the 25-year-old provided three assists and made just 4 starts last season.


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