The summer transfer window brought major changes to the Juventus dressing room. Several players left Turin on loan in search of more playing time, while others definitively brought their time in the black and white shirt to an end.
Just a few weeks later, there is already enough material for a first serious assessment. From Vasilije Adžić, who has just handed Juventus their first league defeat, to Jonathan David's first goal in Spain and Lois Openda's improving form, as well as the fantastic starts made by Dušan Vlahović and Tarik Muharemović, former and loaned-out Bianconeri are making their mark across Europe.
JONATHAN DAVID FINALLY BREAKS HIS DUCK IN MADRID
Jonathan David had to wait for his moment after joining Atlético Madrid on loan. He remained on the bench against Athletic Bilbao, while he was given only 17 minutes in the defeat to Liverpool. Everything changed away to Real Sociedad.
David came on in the 60th minute and half an hour later scored his first goal in an Atlético shirt to make it 2-0. The Canadian received the ball from Alejandro Grimaldo, held off a defender and finished the move precisely. Atlético eventually won 3-0, while David earned a rating of 7.7 for just half an hour on the pitch. Atlético's official website confirms that his goal came in the 90th minute. For a striker who needs goals for confidence, he could hardly have chosen a better moment to break his duck.
MIRETTI STILL WAITING FOR HIS FIRST MINUTES AT BEŞIKTAŞ
Fabio Miretti's situation is completely different. The Italian midfielder has yet to find his rhythm at his new club.
He was not in the squad for Beşiktaş' last two matches, against Fenerbahçe and Erzurumspor.
As a result, this period is effectively still an extension of pre-season for Miretti. Juventus sent him to Turkey precisely so that he could play regularly, so it will be very interesting to see how quickly he can establish himself and earn a place in the team.
DI GREGORIO GETS HIS FIRST CHANCE – AND IMMEDIATELY KEEPS A CLEAN SHEET
Michele Di Gregorio joined Bournemouth in search of a new challenge, but spent most of the beginning of the season on the bench.
His real opportunity arrived on September 8 against Lincoln. Di Gregorio played the full 90 minutes, Bournemouth won 4-0, and the Italian kept a clean sheet. According to the statistics available to us, he also made a save and received a rating of 7.3.
He returned to the bench for the following match against Brentford, showing that he has yet to secure the role of first-choice goalkeeper. Nevertheless, his first full appearance could hardly have gone any better.
ADŽIĆ EXPLODES – THREE GOALS, AN ASSIST AND A KNOCKOUT BLOW TO JUVENTUS
If there is currently one loaned-out player whose results will be followed particularly closely in Turin, it is Vasilije Adžić.
The Montenegro international has made an excellent start to his spell at Sassuolo. He scored against Cesena and Bologna before providing an assist in the victory over Torino.
(The video quality is slightly lower, but it includes all of his highlights and the goal against Bologna.)
Then came a moment that will be remembered for a long time.
Adžić scored the winning goal against Juventus to make it 3-2 with virtually the final kick of the match.
Across the six appearances shown, Adžić has recorded three goals and one assist, earning ratings of 8.0 against Cesena, 8.1 against Bologna and 7.2 against Juventus.
What makes the situation particularly interesting is that Juventus have not lost control over his future. If Sassuolo exercise their option to buy him, the Bianconeri have the possibility of bringing him back for an additional €1.7 million.
If he continues like this, the question of his return to Turin could quickly become much more serious.
JOÃO MÁRIO SEARCHING FOR CONSISTENCY AT FIORENTINA
João Mário has had varying amounts of playing time at Fiorentina so far. He played 45 minutes in the victory over Benevento, then 80 minutes against Roma, only six against Frosinone, before completing the full 90 minutes against Torino. He remained on the bench for the latest match against Venezia.
So far, he has no concrete attacking contribution, while his ratings in the matches he has played show some inconsistency – ranging from 5.8 against Roma to 7.2 against Benevento.
His next objective will be to secure a regular place in Fiorentina's starting XI.
OPENDA FINDS HIS RHYTHM AT LYON
Lois Openda is already showing why he needed a change of scenery. The Belgian has been a regular for Lyon and has already started making a difference.
He scored against Fenerbahçe before saving Lyon from defeat against Le Havre on August 29, scoring in the 87th minute to make it 1-1. Reuters confirms that Openda's late goal earned the French club a point. He then played the full 90 minutes against Auxerre and provided an assist in Lyon's 3-1 victory, earning a rating of 7.7.
In his latest match against Paris, he played 75 minutes in a goalless draw.
Across the matches shown, Openda has already registered two goals and one assist, representing a very good start to his adventure in France.
LIČINA SHINES AT CREMONESE – TWO GOALS AND AN ASSIST IN THREE MATCHES
Another young Juventus player who left this summer in search of much-needed playing time has made an excellent start to his new adventure. Adin Ličina, the 19-year-old attacker, is on loan at Cremonese and has already started showing his potential. Ličina started each of his first three appearances shown and registered two goals and one assist.
He particularly impressed against Parma. Ličina played the full 90 minutes, scored in Cremonese's 2-0 victory and received an excellent rating of 8.6.
Just five days later, he was once again among the key players. In the 3-1 victory over Padova, Ličina scored a goal and provided an assist, leaving the pitch in the 71st minute with a rating of 8.2. He then played another full 90 minutes against Cesena in a 2-2 draw, this time without a direct goal contribution.
AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO LEFT PERMANENTLY?
Two players in particular are attracting the attention of Juventus supporters.
One spent years as the Bianconeri's leading striker, while the other came through the Juventus development system before continuing his career elsewhere.
Their starts to the season are difficult to ignore.
MUHAREMOVIĆ SHINES IN ENGLAND – GOAL AGAINST CHELSEA, ASSIST AGAINST NEWCASTLE
Tarik Muharemović took a huge step by moving to England, and the beginning of his spell at Leeds looks extremely promising. The Bosnia and Herzegovina centre-back is already playing virtually without a break – 90 minutes match after match.
His biggest moment so far came at Stamford Bridge. Muharemović scored with a header against Chelsea to give Leeds the lead. Sky Sports described his goal as a powerful header that put Leeds in front, while Muharemović received a rating of 8.0 despite the eventual 6-3 defeat.
And he did not stop there.
In the latest match against Newcastle, he completed another 90 minutes and provided an assist in Leeds' impressive 4-1 victory, earning a rating of 7.9.
For a centre-back, a goal and an assist combined with a regular starting place in the Premier League represents an impressive start.
VLAHOVIĆ REBORN – FOUR GOALS AND A DERBY WINNER!
After leaving Juventus, the Serbian striker chose Beşiktaş, and following a somewhat slower start, an explosion followed.
Against Çorum, Vlahović scored a hat-trick in Beşiktaş' 6-2 victory and received an outstanding rating of 9.2. It was his first major statement in his new shirt.
Then came the Istanbul derby.
Beşiktaş visited Fenerbahçe on September 5, and with the score at 1-1, it was Vlahović who scored the winning goal in the 85th minute to secure a 2-1 victory.
In just those two matches, Vlahović scored four goals, including a hat-trick and the decisive strike in one of Turkey's biggest derbies.
PERIN LEAVES JUVENTUS AND IMMEDIATELY BECOMES NUMBER ONE
Unlike the previous players, Mattia Perin is no longer a Juventus player.
The experienced goalkeeper continued his career at Palermo, where he immediately received something he had not enjoyed regularly in Turin – the role of first-choice goalkeeper.
Against Arezzo, he played the full 90 minutes and made three saves, while he was particularly impressive against Sampdoria. Palermo won 3-1, with Perin recording four saves from five shots on target and receiving a rating of 7.7.
He missed the latest match against Avellino, but his opening appearances suggest that, whenever available, he will have a very important role.
JUVENTUS HAVE PLENTY OF REASONS TO WATCH WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS EUROPE
This first assessment reveals several very different stories.
Miretti and Di Gregorio are still searching for significant playing time, João Mário is trying to establish himself at Fiorentina, while Openda and David have already started producing tangible results for their new clubs.
But two names currently stand out.
Vasilije Adžić is showing exactly why Juventus wanted to retain control over his future, while Dušan Vlahović, following his permanent departure from Turin, has started finding the net regularly in Turkey.
And right alongside them is Tarik Muharemović, a former member of the Juventus system who, at the age of 23, is already making a significant impact in English football.
For Juventus, this season will therefore be interesting not only because of what happens in Turin – but also because of what the players who temporarily or permanently left the black and white world are doing elsewhere.
