Juventus May Harm Development of Daniele Rugani with Medhi Benatia Signing

There is little doubt that Juventus intend to make 2016/17 the season where their domestic superiority finally translates into tangible success in Europe, something coach Massimiliano Allegri discussed earlier this month.

“Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign,” the former AC Milan boss explained to JTV (h/t the official Juventus website). “And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it.”

The Bianconeri have undoubtedly had that objective at the forefront of their planning this summer, as the signings of Miralem Pjanic and Dani Alves clearly indicated.

Last week saw a third new arrival, and Bayern Munich defender Medhi Benatia certainly fits in with what appears to be a desperate desire to contend with UEFA’s elite clubs.

The Moroccan defender, 29, signs on a season-long loan with the option to make his move permanent. #WelcomeBenatia pic.twitter.com/YO0mPuXBbl

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 15, 2016

According to a statement on Juve’s official website, they paid a fee of €3 million to bring the Morocco international to the club on a season-long loan, while also having an option to make the deal permanent for €17 million in July 2017.

Born in the French city of Courcoronnes, Benatia’s career thus far has taken on some interesting twists, but he will be hoping that a return to Italy and Serie A will help him rediscover his best form. 

He started out in the youth sector of Olympique de Marseille, only to be sent for loan spells with Tours and FC Lorient before being sold on to Clermont in the summer of 2008. Two impressive seasons with the Ligue 2 outfit brought him to the attention of Udinese where Benatia would steadily improve almost every aspect of his play. 

In total he would play in Friuli for three years, making 97 appearances and showing superb tactical awareness. Standing 6′ 3″ (1.90 metres), he is capable of handling physical opponents but also reads the game well, his ability on the ball impressing AS Roma, who signed him in the summer of 2013.

It was with the Giallorossi that Benatia truly shone, the following campaign providing a complete showcase of his talents. According to statistics provided by WhoScored.com, he would average an impressive 2.1 tackles, 2.8 interceptions and 6.3 clearances per game as part of a vastly improved defensive unit.

0.5 – #Roma conceded 0.5 goals per game on average in the Serie A 2013-14 with Mehdi Benatia on pitch – 1.1 goals without him. Courted.

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 30, 2014

Roma …

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