5) Sami Khedira
Juventus’ success over the past few years have mostly been credited to their defensive wall of Buffon and their very own BBC (Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini). However, their midfield must also get their due – especially because all the midfield personnel were replaced without any hiccups.
The Turin club’s midfield once had the likes of Pirlo, Vidal and Pogba. All three were replaced and players such as Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira and the ever-present Claudio Marchisio have stepped into their shoes and elevated the club. Much of the credit must go to Allegri for ensuring that the core of the team remained intact despite the numerous changes.
Khedira was finding games hard to come by at the Bernabeu and the club eventually allowed him to leave on a free transfer in 2015. The 2014 World Cup winner was only 28 when he joined and had a few more years at the top.
Linking the attack and defence while also making off-the-ball runs made Khedira a vital component of Juve’s midfield and it has helped them mount a serious challenge for the treble this season. Having clocked more than 3000 minutes in all competitions, the German midfielder seems to have put his injury concerns behind him.
