Barzagli: ‘De Ligt will become the best in the world, Juve should renew with Dybala’
Former Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli believes Matthijs de Ligt will become ‘the best in the world’ and thinks the Old Lady should renew with Paulo Dybala.
The former centre-back and staff member at the Old Lady revealed why he turned down a return to the club this summer and spoke about his farewell in May 2020.
His two friends Chiellini and Bonucci were the protagonists at the back for the Azzurri at the Euros this summer and Barzagli felt the two veterans finally deserved to win a European trophy.
“A great pride. We have a chat between us called the BBC, but after the Final I preferred to congratulate Giorgio and Leo individually,” he told Tuttosport.
“I’m happy they won because, after two defeats in the Champions League Finals and EURO 2012, they deserved a European affirmation.
“And trust me: when you are older in age, you enjoy certain trophies even more.”
Barzagli is sure Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt will step up to become ‘the best in the world’ in his position.
“Surely in a few years he will be the best in the world,” he said. “He has everything to become it, starting with a great mentality.
“He has countless means. He’s awake, Matthijs. He really has everything to become an absolute top player, but you have to give him time to grow.
“I was in Serie C at his age, while he plays for Juventus and the Netherlands. Even if you are as cold as he is, it’s impossible not to suffer a little bit from the pressure he has, starting with the €75m invested by Juventus.”
Barzagli also believes Juventus should give Paulo Dybala the chance to shine with a new deal at the Allianz Stadium but warned the Argentine that he must be ‘the first to help himself’.
“It will be a fundamental season for Dybala,” he continued. “Paulo must turn his career around and the club and the coach must give him a hand.
“The first to help him, must be himself. On the fact that Dybala has talent, there’s no doubt, but he must think bigger and give his all to become one of the greats.
“Football is full of talented people who switch on and off intermittently. The greats are few and if he wants to become one of them, he must do even more by increasing the leadership on the pitch. It doesn’t mean screaming or talking but making a difference and shifting the balance.
“Juventus must show they want to bet on Paulo, even with the renewal.”