It has been widely reported that Juventus are on the brink of signing Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, whose contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to expire in the summer.
The Welshman would certainly not be the first player to head to Turin on a free transfer as the Serie A giants have developed a handy knack of picking up a bargain when one becomes available.
With that in mind, here is an XI made up entirely of players Juventus have signed on a free transfer after 2000. And to think, all of this for zero. Zilch. Nada. Not a penny.
All of Europe’s top clubs should aspire to be as thrifty as this.
Goalkeeper: Neto
Signed: 2015
Juventus appearances: 22
When your number one goalkeeper is Gianluigi Buffon, you will not want to spend much on a deputy and that was the case for Juventus in 2015 when they signed Neto on a free transfer.
The Brazilian spent two seasons as the club, playing 22 games in all competitions, keeping 13 clean sheets and helped Juventus to win the Coppa Italia twice before moving to Valencia.
Centre-back: Robert Kovac
Signed: 2005
Juventus appearances: 39
Long-time assistant manager to his brother Niko, Robert Kovac spent two years in Turin having left the club (Bayern Munich) he and his brother are now in charge of on a free transfer.
Robert joined Juventus in 2005 and was part of the side that had won Serie A in his first season but had it stripped from them following the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal and were subsequently relegated.
But Kovac spent one more season with the club as they won Serie B, before moving to Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer.
Centre-back: Fabio Cannavaro
Signed: 2009
Juventus appearances: 127 (two spells)
After his three-year contract at Real Madrid ran out, Fabio Cannavaro returned to Juventus on a free transfer.
Spending a year at the club between 2009 and 2010, the Ballon d’Or and World Cup-winning captain played 33 times in all competitions forming a partnership with Giorgio Chiellini in the heart of defence – though Juventus would struggle to seventh in Serie A.
Centre-back: Olof Mellberg
Signed: 2008
Juventus appearances: 38
A potential member of ‘X players you forgot played for Juventus’, Olof Mellberg enjoyed a good time in Turin following his move from Aston Villa.
Playing 38 times in all competitions, the centre-back provided stability as the Old Lady looked to rebuild their legacy in Italian football following a tough period.
Right wing-back: Dani Alves
Signed: 2016
Juventus appearances: 33
With his Barcelona contract up, Dani Alves had a host of suitors to choose from and Juventus were the lucky team to be picked.
In his solitary season with the Old Lady, before a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, Alves played 33 times in all competitions.
But he proved effective enough to win Serie A and the Coppa Italia, scoring in the final against Lazio, while also appearing in the club’s run to the Champions League final.
Central midfielder: Emre Can
OFFICIAL: Emre Can signs for Juventus! ✍️⚪⚫️
➡️ https://t.co/HcQr9QpC6f#WelcomeToJu #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/nOlYUxdRYn
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) June 21, 2018
Signed: 2018
Juventus appearances: 16
Emre Can proved himself to be a useful utility man at Liverpool, playing in both defence and midfield for the Premier League outfit.
So far, Can is yet to make a sizeable impact in Italy due to injury problems, but provides them with great depth and stability in the middle of the park.
Central midfielder: Andrea Pirlo
Signed: 2011
Juventus appearances: 164
In what may go down as one of, if not the, best free transfer in the history of Italian football, Andrea Pirlo joined Juventus from AC Milan in 2011.
The midfield general would find himself moulded by Antonio Conte into a quarterback-style role, which prolonged his career and effectiveness at the top level.
Before leaving in 2015, Pirlo would win four Scudetti and one Italian Cup.
Central midfielder: Sami Khedira
Signed: 2015
Juventus appearances: 118
With his contract at Real Madrid out, Sami Khedira joined Juventus in 2015 to provide an adequate replacement for the departing Arturo Vidal and Pirlo.
The 31-year-old is still a key part of Juventus’ midfield and, although Can may well prove to be his long-term replacement, Khedira scored nine goals in all competitions last season to win his third consecutive league and cup double.
Left wing-back: Kingsley Coman
Signed: 2014
Juventus appearances: 22
Joining on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2014, Kingsley Coman would play just one year in Turin – spending a further two on loan with Bayern Munich.
But in that one year spell, Coman furthered his development into the exciting winger he is today, which earned him a permanent move to Bavaria.
We’ve snuck him at left-wing back given the amount of cover he would have from the box-to-box midfielders and classy back-three (could not resist).
Attacking midfielder: Paul Pogba
Signed: 2012
Juventus appearances: 178
When Manchester United let Paul Pogba leave for Juventus on a free transfer (Juventus did pay £800,000 as a tribunal for a young player and academy product), not many people batted an eyelid.
But in his four-year spell in Turin, the Frenchman made his name as one of the best midfielders in Europe, commanding a then-world record fee of £92m upon his return to Old Trafford in 2016.
Pogba scored 34 goals and recorded 43 assists in his time at Juventus, winning four consecutive Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia.
Striker: Fernando Llorente
Signed: 2013
Juventus appearances: 92
With his deal at Athletic Bilbao running out at the end of the 2012/13 season, Fernando Llorente signed a pre-contract with Juventus for a free transfer in the summer.
The Spaniard spent just two full seasons with the club, playing 92 times in total and scoring 27 goals, winning two Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia before leaving for Sevilla in 2015.
He also had a brief spell with Swansea before being snapped up by Spurs, where he was always going to play second fiddle to Harry Kane.
The post We’ve put together an entire Juventus XI made up of their best free transfers this century appeared first on Squawka News.
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