The French Pierre Kalulu In just a few months it has become an unexpected defensive wall for Juventus. He arrived on loan from Milan in an operation that surprised Italy, but is now indisputable for Thiago Mottagive up on the productivity of its best centre-back.
The injury of the Brazilian Gleison Bremerwho tore his anterior cruciate ligament, further places him at the center of Juventus’ project as an indispensable player. At least until June, the date on which his loan contract in Turin ends.
The maneuver closed at the end of August was about 3 million euros. The Juventus It reserves the right to buy which it can exercise with about 15 million more.
Kaluluwhich came almost as a patch, as the third option after ‘Old Lady I will try to sign then Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal) and Jean-Clair Todibo (West Ham), aims to be a permanent center back for longer than expected in Turin.
For now, he has to stop a great revelation in the Champions League like Aston Villawhich lost only 1 of 4 games. A direct confrontation for the round of 16.
Motta was taken over by his talent
The best thing you have Kalulu he can play in all defensive positions and be solvent in each of them. He showed it to Milan in his first three seasons, although he eventually lost all authority as he spent most of the campaign in the infirmary, reduced by constant injury.
The call of Juventus It didn’t convince him at first, but the decision of Milan to strengthen the defense by two signings and talks with Motta They made him change his mind.
“When I spoke to Motta on the phone, the first thing he said to me was: ‘Are you ready to play every 3 days?’ I said, ‘Yeah, where do you see me playing?’ And he said: ‘On the right, in the middle and on the left’ That’s when I thought: if he sees me everywhere, for me it’s the best,” explained the footballer a few days ago in. DAZNafter the fight against Milan.
“And he warned me: ‘Know that your options for the game are in practice!’ And the same with Juventus,” he added.
The time ended up proving right Motta. During the absence Federico Gatti nor the Brazilian Danilo They know how to adapt to the demands of the technician, Kalulu is a perfect ally for this new Juventus. He is the second defenseman on the squad with the most minutes and starts, just behind Andrea Cambiaso.
Defensively, he leads the blocked shots stat with 12 so far this season. In the distribution data, he is the defender who accumulates the most successful passes (999), surpassing himself by more than 100 Changewho in many cases plays as a midfielder or winger and intervenes more in the game. He is also third with the most successful long passes (17).
And these aren’t sterile passes in comfortable areas of the field. He is the one who made the most successful passes in the final third (55) and the one who intercepted the most successful progressive passes (65).
A player who not only defends, but also contributes to the formation from the back and dares to join the attack. Attack the spaces as requested Motta and its great moment allows it to be an offensive solution without losing its natural defensive aspect.
Juve, two defensive versions
The Turin team, although sixth, is close to the top in a very close Serie A in the noble side. Only 4 points behind the leader, the Naples of Antonio Conte.
This is undoubtedly the best defense in the championship with only 7 goals conceded. In fact, in this sense, it has better numbers than Naples. Because it also scores more. But he earns less. He received the first goal in the domestic championship on October 6, on the seventh day.
They haven’t shown that defensive excellence in Serie A in the Champions League, where they shine. Inter and Atalanta as the only teams not to score a goal. He scored a goal in the four games he played. Five goals in four games in Europe; only seven of thirteen games in Italy.
In a difficult moment for the Juventus attack, with Dusan Vlahovic between cotton, Kalulu now presented as the great hope of Juventus that the team in Serie A manages to transfer that defensive version to Europe, where the Aston Villa.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
