Juventus January Transfer Would Be Last Chance for Wesley Sneijder to Shine

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As Serie A kicks back into gear following the winter break, teams will be anxious to pick up wins to boost their chances of securing their seasonal objectives, but they will also look to move into the transfer market where they can to aid their progress.

For Juventus, another league title is the obvious aim, and with the club looking for an attacking midfielder, Sky Sports have reported an interest from the Turin club in Galatasaray‘s Wesley Sneijder.

Others have also been linked with the Dutchman, so a deal isn’t going to be straightforward, but with the 30-year-old looking perhaps for a final chance to have a big impact at the top of the game, it would be a move which gives Juve strength in depth and offers Sneijder an opportunity to prove his continuing worth.

 

Sneijder‘s Downturn

Sneijder was one of the most important parts of Inter Milan‘s treble-winning team in 2010, but within 18 months of that tremendous campaign—and the World Cup run to the final with Netherlands which followed—his influence on the team had started to wane.

He has spent the past two years with Galatasaray in Turkey, scoring nine in all competitions last season and being a regular performer but not making great waves in the Champions League, either with his own performances or the team’s success.

While he isn’t quite as dynamic or explosive throughout a 90 minutes as he once was, Sneijder remains a key figure with the national team and has played more than 1,100 minutes in the Super Lig this term, the fifth-highest in his team’s squad. There is clearly no issue with his ability to play at a high level, with frequency, and to demand more success.

 

Juve Attack

Now under Mass Allegri’s tutelage, Juventus have lost just once this season in Serie A and sit top of the table, having scored more and conceded fewer than any other top-flight Italian side.

The back-three system has been replaced by a flat four, with a diamond or narrow three in midfield, meaning Allegri is looking for a new attacking, creative option, as he said on Sky Sports:

It’s not easy to reinforce Juve, but we have some very clear ideas, and it’s no secret that we are looking for an attacking midfielder and a defender. Sneijder has tremendous technical quality and would complete an already very strong part of the team, creating competition for places.

Before the winter break, Roberto Pereyra filled the most advanced central role, but he was subbed in each of the final three games against Sampdoria, Cagliari and Napoli. Adding Sneijder to the mix would certainly bring experience and technique, if not the dribbling ability and pace which the Dutchman possessed last time he starred in Italy.

 

Final Chance

There has long been talk of teams of the like of Manchester United or indeed Juve looking at Sneijder, but having fallen out of favour at Inter and then accepting a move to Galatasaray—a big team, but not a big league—it is clear that the Dutchman’s career was already on the wane.

Italy’s top flight is not at its strongest point right now, and that the top club in the country would consider bringing Sneijder back at this point, likely to be a regular performer, is perhaps an indication of that.

However, he does remain a talented individual who, when used correctly, can have a game-changing impact still. If the fire is still within him to have a crack at the top, with Juve looking for more honours and utilising a system which could suit Sneijder, this might be the perfect, and last, opportunity for the World Cup finalist to show his capabilities to the world.

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