Juve youth update 7th September 2014

By tdf, September 7, 2014

Our former primavera captain Pol Garcia moved to Vicenza on dead-line day, linking up with fellow Juventino Matteo Gerbaudo. The italian midfielder made his debut in his side’s 1-2 home coppa italia defeat, with both players involved in the recent 8-0 drubbing of an amateur side in a friendly.

Gerbaudo is an attacking midfielder who scored 14 goals in 41 appearance for our primavera before been sent out on loan to cut his teeth with the seniors. Spaniard Garcia was an ever-present for the same side, the towering centre-back the first choice captain for much of his time at Piedmont.

Once hailed as the new Alessandro Nesta, 19 year old stopper Nicolo Curti has enjoyed a solid start to the season on loan at Lega Pro side Como. Having made his debut as a substitute in the opening fixture of the new season, a 0-0 home draw against Suditrol, the young defender achieved his first start and goal in senior football in the 0-2 away victory over Torres.

Curti was signed by Juve as a 16 year old at Perugia when Paratici and his scouts pounced to beat off competition from Roma and Milan to secure his signature. Once the deal was sealed, the player was loaned to Perugia for the remainder of the season. He then moved to Juve, where he represented the club at U17 and then U19 level, before making the move to Como this Summer.

His manager at Perugia for the 11/12 season had this to say at the time-

‘“The identity card says he is 16 years old, but his awareness is as mature as a veteran who has managed to play without problems in a professional league, churning out excellent performance. Besides, often played as a right-back and doing very well”.

“Skilful central defender at marking, but also good with the ball at his feet. Excellent technique and vision of the game worthy of a midfielder.”

Let us hope that the youngster can live up to the hype which surrounded him previously and has since slunk off into the shadows.

Kingsley Coman picked up where he left off for Juve, adding to his fine debut for the club in the 0-1 victory over Chievo with a wonderful showing in the French U21 1-5 demolition job of Kazakhstan. His dribbling, quick feet and intelligent distribution were especially outstanding considering at 18 he is up to 3 years younger than the majority of team-mates and opponents. It appears that Marotta and Paratici have performed an amazing piece of business bringing the clearly ultra-talented forward into the ranks. For the flair merchant – who only recently turned 18 – appears to be one for Now, not merely an optimistic hope for the future.

And who knows eh? Perhaps he will be joined next year by former PSG comrade Adrien Rabiot, who has refused to sign a new contract, was allegedly the subject of serious money bids from Arsenal and Roma on the final day of the transfer window, yet has remained in Paris (for now). With his contract expiring next Summer, and plenty of rumours suggesting we already have an agreement with the player, will we play the waiting game and hope to gain his signature in January for a free move in June? Or will we be forced to spend on a transfer fee when the Winter mercato window opens, to fend off interest from other top clubs?

Despite the exciting nature of the Italy U21 side’s come from behind 3-2 victory over Serbia, it was odd to see Rugani and to a lesser degree Leali fail to make an appearance. Rugani has played for Serie A newcomers Empoli in both their first coppa italia tie and league fixture of the 14/15 campaign. On a more positive note, Sturaro played the whole match and remains, as does Leali, a regular fixture for his top flight side.

Berardi featured in the match, hitting the post, causing constant trouble for the opposition, then finding the winner, with a brilliant left foot strike from range…

Italy U21 3-2 Serbia U21

And to finish this ad-hoc report, with my roast dinner demanding my fangs, I will briefly mention Ouasim Bouy. The much hyped attacking midfielder we signed from Ajax in early 2012 where he was ear-marked for a soon to commence role in the senior side. We thrust him into our primavera, sent him out on loan to Brescia, where he was performing brilliantly until a horrid injury put him down; a similar ACL destruction which stunted the fine form of Fabio Quagliarella. So he came home, recuperated, and in January of this year was sent to Hamburg, where he played, briefly, and was then pushed to the sidelines as a new coach came in,who kept the club in the bundesliga by the skin of his teeth…without making use of Bouy. This summer we found interest from several sources, which is no surprise given his agent is none other than Mino Raiola. He was moved to Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos on a season loan. Instantly involved in friendlies, and made appearances in both europa league qualifiers against FC Midtylland. From which Panathinaikos emerged clear victors.

Ouasim has already made his league debut, and his european debut. This year will be a big one for the dutchman.

LATE NEWS-

Edoardo Goldaniga, 20 year old CB we co-own with Palermo, made his third appearance of the season for early table-toppers Perugia, in their comprehensive 0-2 triumph away to Bari.

The fleet footed Big Mame Thiam…

Over at Lanciano, we had several players involved in the 2-0 home win over Modena. Co-owned with the home side, Mame Baba Thiam scored the winner, whilst Pinsoglio and Schiavone started and finished for the losers.

The Ternana v Pescara scrap, which ended in a 1-1 draw also saw several juventini involved. Promising central defender Alberto Masi did well enough for the home side, whilst the visitors gave full games to Fiorillo between the sticks and Gabriel Appelt in midfield. It was none other then Juve loan striker Christian Pasquato who scored for Pescara.