Who knows. Maybe he's not the only one looking to leave. Maybe some aren't happy with how they are being used or the balance of the team. Maybe we're just so used to winning that those players have got a little complacent.
I also think Alex Sandro has/had some off-field issues that were alluded to some months ago, but I look at our top players, which for me are Dybala, Pjanic, Alex Sandro, Higuain, and then Buffon and Chiellini from the old guard, and you look over the season and wonder who has been consistently good? They've all done it in bits and pieces. Dybala is so good he can score in second gear. Pjanic is a little bit of a "good time player" imo, I like him a lot but still question if he's a technical leader far above a mental one.
I think this season there are issues running concurrently;
- Veterans and leaders on a considerable decline, on the way out or battling injury (Buffon, Barzagli, Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Mandzukic)
- Players important to the way Allegri wants to play are in their settling in season (Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa)
- CM issues; partly to do with Marchisio's issues but also a generational gap and lack of signing a genuine world class player
- Fitting Dybala into the approach that best suits others
This season I think age catching up and CM are the two biggest issues. CMs and fullbacks are the most important in the mercato. Thanks to previous future planning for Szcsesny, Caldara, Spinazzola, Bentancur and Pjaca we are better positioned than the likes of Inter or Milan were at the end of their cycle.
Buffon >< Szczesny
Asamoah >< Spinazzola
Barzagli >< Caldara
Lichtsteiner replacement DR €20m
Starting MC €40m
Experienced backup keeper
Honestly I don't expect much else unless we sell Dybala, Alex Sandro etc, but I do wonder whether we'll go for an experienced MC or retain all of our current options and throw a lot of money at a young player like Barella. That would go with the grain.
I also think Alex Sandro has/had some off-field issues that were alluded to some months ago, but I look at our top players, which for me are Dybala, Pjanic, Alex Sandro, Higuain, and then Buffon and Chiellini from the old guard, and you look over the season and wonder who has been consistently good? They've all done it in bits and pieces. Dybala is so good he can score in second gear. Pjanic is a little bit of a "good time player" imo, I like him a lot but still question if he's a technical leader far above a mental one.
I think this season there are issues running concurrently;
- Veterans and leaders on a considerable decline, on the way out or battling injury (Buffon, Barzagli, Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Mandzukic)
- Players important to the way Allegri wants to play are in their settling in season (Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa)
- CM issues; partly to do with Marchisio's issues but also a generational gap and lack of signing a genuine world class player
- Fitting Dybala into the approach that best suits others
This season I think age catching up and CM are the two biggest issues. CMs and fullbacks are the most important in the mercato. Thanks to previous future planning for Szcsesny, Caldara, Spinazzola, Bentancur and Pjaca we are better positioned than the likes of Inter or Milan were at the end of their cycle.
Buffon >< Szczesny
Asamoah >< Spinazzola
Barzagli >< Caldara
Lichtsteiner replacement DR €20m
Starting MC €40m
Experienced backup keeper
Honestly I don't expect much else unless we sell Dybala, Alex Sandro etc, but I do wonder whether we'll go for an experienced MC or retain all of our current options and throw a lot of money at a young player like Barella. That would go with the grain.
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