World class stars Juventus signed for less than £10m

It goes without saying that a club must be doing something right if they are able to claim eight domestic league titles on the spin.

That is exactly what Juventus managed in Serie A – mostly with minimum fuss – as initially Antonio Conte and then Massimiliano Allegri ensured the Old Lady remained the team to beat in Italy.

Despite their status as one of Europe’s most prestigious institutions, though, Juve have found it difficult at times to hold onto their brightest talents which has meant they have had to be astute when it comes to regenerating their first-team squad.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7266091-the-season-defining-story-from-each-of-europe-s-top-five-leagues

It is a good job, therefore, that those in charge of acquiring new players have done a pretty good job at doing so over the last few years – so much so that it would not be ridiculous to label Juventus the ‘kings of the transfer market’.

To emphasise the point, Squawka have assembled a list of 10 top-class players past and present who moved to Juventus for less than £10m.

Dani Alves

Signed from: Barcelona (2016)

Fee: Free transfer

In the summer of 2016, Brazilian full-back Dani Alves brought a 14-year stay in Spain to an end, by relocating to Juventus on a free transfer.

Alves, who represented Sevilla for six seasons before becoming part of the furniture at Barcelona in 2008, has been undoubtedly the best right-back in the world during his peak years and, despite the 26-year-old’s advancing years, remains an useful player today whilst representing Paris Saint-Germain – he is out of contract this summer.

Sami Khedira

Signed from: Real Madrid (2015)

Fee: Free transfer

Another to swap one of La Liga’s big two for Serie A’s numero uno is Sami Khedira, who departed Madrid for Turin on a free transfer in 2015 following five injury-hit years at the Bernabeu.

Handed the unenviable task of filling the sizeable hole left by Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, Khedira did an excellent job of doing just that, providing bite as well as goals to the side. His 2018/19 campaign was unfortunately hindered by a knee injury.

Patrice Evra

Signed from: Manchester United (2014)

Fee: £1.5m

Patrice Evra enjoyed a trophy-laden eight-year spell at Manchester United, but following a disastrous final season under the stewardship of David Moyes the Frenchman decided to leave for pastures new, joining Juventus for just £1.5m.

While the veteran perhaps couldn’t bomb up and down the left flank as regularly as he used to, he became a key player during his two and a half years at Juventus, with his vast experience helping the club win two Serie A and two Coppa Italia titles. Short-lived spells at Marseille and West Ham followed, and the Frenchman is now without a club.

Kingsley Coman

Signed from: PSG (2014)

Fee: Free transfer

Evra wasn’t the only Frenchman to move to Juventus Stadium in 2014, as he was joined by the then teenage winger Kingsley Coman, who like his veteran international teammate didn’t cost the club a single penny.

It was with Juve Coman was given regular opportunities to develop his skills on the big stage as he made 20 appearances in his first full season with the club before joining Bayern Munich on a two-year loan, a deal which was envtually made permanent.

Incredibly, the 22-year-old has already won Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga. Not bad going, although he perhaps hasn’t played as regularly as he’d like to at Bayern.

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Carlos Tevez

Signed from: Manchester City (2013)

Fee: £6.75m

After a turbulent four-year spell at Manchester City, Carlos Tevez embarked on a fresh challenge in Italy, joining Juventus for a cut-price fee in 2013 due to his contract having one year left to run.

Although Tevez’s spell in Italy was short, it was most certainly sweet too, as he netted 50 goals in 95 games for the club and won three major honours with the club before returning to his spiritual home, Boca Juniors, in 2015 – only to complete a move to Chinese Super League team Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. in 2017 before returning to Boca.

Paul Pogba

Signed from: Manchester United (2012)

Fee: Free transfer

With first-team opportunities proving difficult to come by at Old Trafford, Paul Pogba rejected numerous offers from Sir Alex Ferguson to stay at Manchester United to instead move to Juventus in 2012.

For Pogba, the moved proved to be an inspired decision as he quickly established himself as a key part of Antonio Conte’s midfield and during his four years at Juve as he blossomed into one of the best midfielders in the world before rejoining the Red Devils for a then world record fee in the summer of 2016.

His spell back at Old Trafford has been mixed, and rumours have emerged of a possible return to Juventus or a move to Real Madrid.

Andrea Pirlo

Signed from: AC Milan

Fee: Free transfer

The signing that in hindsight proved to be the catalyst for the shift in power in Italian football. After helping Milan win the league title in 2010-11, Andrea Pirlo was inexplicably allowed to depart the San Siro on a free transfer, ending up in the arms of their rivals Juventus instead.

Deemed too old to continue marshalling Milan’s midfield, Pirlo showed his former employers they made a grave error in letting him go, inspiring his new club to four successive Scudettos before moving to New York to see out the twilight years of his career, which came to an end in the summer of 2017.

Arturo Vidal

Signed from: Bayer Leverkusen (2011)

Fee: £9.38m

It shows just how far Juventus have come over the past few years that their capture of Arturo Vidal in 2011 was regarded as something of a coup, given they had just finished a disappointing 7th in Serie A the previous season.

Like Pirlo, Vidal instantly became a key cog in Juve’s engine room, with his all-action displays helping to propel the club back to the summit of Italian football, as well as to the Champions League final in 2015.

His departure for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2015 also netted the club a tidy profit of just over £18m.

Andrea Barzagli

Signed from: Wolfsburg (2011)

Fee: £225,000

While Juventus’ options in midfield and attack have been altered and changed over the past few seasons, whoever has been in charge has been able to rely upon a relatively constant defensive line.

Andrea Barzagli was the latest to join the club, moving for a frankly ridiculous fee of £225,000 in January 2011 owing to his contract with Wolfsburg expiring a few months later. Now 38, Barzagli has played his final game for Juventus after retiring at the end of the 2018/19 season.

Giorgio Chiellini

Signed from: Fiorentina (2005)

Fee: £5.48m

It is difficult to imagine Giorgio Chiellini turning out in anything other than the famous black and white stripes with which he has become synonymous during his 14 years at Juventus.

Chiellini has been with the club through thick and thin, during the dark Calciopoli days and their subsequent campaign in Serie B to the eight successive Serie A title wins. A genuine club legend who has proven to be exceptional value for money down the years.