Former Juventus stars Franco Causio and Massimo Mauro have reacted with sadness to Rodrigo Bentancur’s £20 million move to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, via Gazzetta dello Sport.
Just two years ago, Maurizio Sarri was tipping Bentancur for a big future at the Allianz Stadium.
And maybe, if the chain-smoking tactician had not been given the boot after just one season in Turin, the Uruguayan would have lived up to those lofty expectations.
Instead, a man who produced the best football of his career under the former Chelsea boss has been lost amid the churn of the post-Sarri era.
So much so that Bentancur will complete a £20 million deadline day move to Tottenham Hotspur (Sky).
“Bentancur; I would have kept him,” says Causio, a six-time Serie A champion with the Bianconeri. “He was a good player but these are obligatory choices to settle the balance (of the squad).”
Who will do better at Spurs; Dejan Kulusevski or Rodrigo Bentancur?
Causio is not quite as concerned about Dejan Kulusevski’s departure, however.
Like Bentancur, the silky Swede only showed flashes of his undoubted potential in Juventus colours. Kulusevski will join Spurs on an initial loan deal, one that could be made permanent if he can rediscover the thrilling form that earned him the Serie A Young Player of the Year award in 2020.
“Kulusevski, on the other hand, since he arrived in Turin has never made a great impression on me,” Causio adds. “Perhaps the Juve shirt was too heavy for him.”
Denis Zakaria will sign for Juventus today as a replacement for Bentancur, joining from Borussia Mochengladbach. In theory, the Vieira-like Zakaria should provide the energy and drive Juve have been missing in recent seasons.
A £20m bargain?
“A wave of change certainly doesn’t hurt,” adds Mauro, a midfielder who won the Scudetto at both Juventus and Napoli.
“Juve have been good at changing a few faces among the players. Managing not only to buy, but also to sell. For me, having given up Bentancur is a shame.
“But it is an understandable sale after buying (Dusan) Vlahovic.”
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