Editorial (July 19, 2018) – Juventus F.C. gained a lot of more than just a singing with Cristiano Ronaldo. In fact, the Italian club increases its chances to become the best free-kickers in the world.
Paulo Dybala, Miralem Pjanic, and the recently signed Cristiano Ronaldo will terrorize Europe, and not only for their goalscoring ability because they have a remarkable talent on free kicks and set pieces.
Juventus F.C. will become the club’s best free-kick takers in the world
Juventus netted eight direct free kicks last season to top Italy’s Serie A in that stat, with Dybala leading the way with four free kick goals, followed by Pjanic with three and Federico Bernardeshi scored one as well.
However, despite Ronaldo only reached the net once from a direct free kick last season with Real Madrid, he is still a threat on restarts.
Dybala is a left-footed player, while Ronaldo and Pjanic are both right-footers, so that means Juventus has all keys to become the top free kick club on the planet.
Here’s a look of the world-class Juventus free-kick takers:
Paulo Dybala
The 24-year-old Argentinean scored a free kick in the Supercoppa Italiana final against Lazio, but the Bianconeri’s team ultimately lost 2-3.
Dybala has scored 10 direct free kick since coming to Italy and nine of them came with Juventus; indeed, La Vecchia Signora has lost just one game when Dybala netted a free kick. His skills to score from outside the box makes him an incredible player to watch.
Cristiano Ronaldo
There’s not much that hasn’t been said yet about the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Ronaldo arrived in Turin to face another challenge in his prolific career, his natural talent will give the Italian club a free kick master.
Cristiano has scored 41 goals from a direct free kick in his club’s career, 11 with Manchester United, and an outstanding milestone of 30 with Real Madrid.
Last season, though, he only netted once from a free kick and it was in the FIFA Club World Cup final against Gremio. Even so, Ronaldo is a like a wild animal who always wants more preys.
He has scored 10 of those 41 free kicks in the UEFA Champions League, his beloved tournament, where he also is the all-time goalscoring leader with 120 goals.
Now is his time to shine with Juventus and conquer the Serie A.
Ronaldo free-kick drought ended with a superb goal against Spain in the World Cup to equalize 3-3 in the Group Stage.
Miralem Pjanic
“The Pianist”, what an awesome playmaker he is. Though, Pjanic has made himself a name among the top’s best free kickers.
The 28-year-old Bosnian footballer has scored 20 goals from direct free kicks in his career, including six with Juventus. Pjanic has also made important goals, with four of those free kicks scored in the UEFA Champions League and one in the Coppa Italia.
The 2015-16 season was his peak year when he netted six direct free kicks with Roma. Pjanic has scored free kicks in all seasons since the 2009-10 campaign when he was playing with Olympique Lyonnais at the time.
He left Lyon with two goals from the free kick, in Roma he netted 12 times in five seasons and Juventus will take advantage of his skills.
Bonus: Federico Bernardeschi
The only Italian player in this list. Juventus has far too many options to score free kicks, and Bernarseschi is one of them.
The 24-year-old left-footed player is the best option when Dybala is not on the pitch. Bernardeschi has netted five times from direct free kicks in his career, twice with Crotone and Fiorentina and one with Juventus last season.
Whoever it may be, Juventus is looking to become the club with the best free kicker players in the world.
