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#3 Defenders
The Bianconeri made a surprising move to capture former Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt in a transfer saga that included nearly all the top ten clubs in Europe.
De Ligt has cost the club upwards of €85 million, thereby cementing the 19-year-old's position in the starting XI. Captaining his Ajax squad to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and participating in the Netherlands' run to the finals of the Nations Cup, de Ligt quickly became a force to be reckoned with.
The Juventini would be proud to have won the race in bringing in one of the best defenders in the world.
De Ligt aside, the Italian giants successfully brought in three more defenders, all under the age of 22.
Centre-back Cristian Romero was signed from Genoa for €26 million. The 21-year-old started 27 games for Genoa last season, winning more than two aerial duels in each match. Most likely due to the very limited game time young Romero would receive, Juventus have sent him back on loan to his former club for a year.
Young left-back Luca Pellegrini was brought in from rival club AS Roma for €22 million. The 19-year-old played 16 league games for Roma, chipping in with two assists. He also gained some Champions League experience, appearing twice last season.
Leonardo Spinazzola went the other way, joining Pellegrini's former teammates at AS Roma, with Juventus receiving nearly €30 million. The 26-year-old left-back has not had any game time in Turin, having gone on loan since he entered Juventus' senior team.
Merih Demiral was yet another defender who joined the Turin giants on a permanent contract. Sold for just over €18 million by Sassuolo, the Turk scored two Serie A goals last season. It is left to see whether the 21-year-old will get any game time under Maurizio Sarri.
Other defenders like Luca Marrone and Rogerio were sent on loan last term, and their loan clubs have bought them from Juventus. Martin Caceres finished off his loan term in Turin and has been released on a free transfer by his own club Lazio.
Luca Barlocco has also been released by Juventus. Most notably, Andrea Barzagli retired from football after spending eight years with the Bianconeri, and it's safe to say that de Ligt is set to replace him.
