Juve take up the option on Matri and Quagliarella

Juventus have begun their mercato in impressive fashion so far, adding Andrea Pirlo to their midfield to give it a sense of gravitas that it perhaps has lacked since Pavel Nedved retired a couple of seasons ago. Pirlo, of course, is a player who has achieved great success both domestically and Internationally in recent years and his experience in the middle of the park will be needed if the old lady are to return from the slumber they have entered into in the last two campaigns. Now they have completed the signings of two players who did manage to impress last season, despite their dire campaign as a whole.

Fabio Quagliarella was having a superb campaign before injury took him out of the Juve lineup. 9 goals in 17 games was a very decent return prior to his horrific injury against Parma, and in many respects that match itself was where the wheels came off for the old lady in a 4-1 home hammering. But, prior to that, Quagliarella had taken to life at a big club like a duck to water and his redemption should be pleasing to that of the Juve tifosi. 

The same can be said for Matri as well. Another bright Italian talent Matri had at Cagliari carved out something of a reputation. Indeed in this campaign he had, prior to his move to Juve, hit 11 goals in 22 games. And, in the black and white, he continued this rich vein of form scoring 9 times in 16 games making him have a season total of 20 goals when all was said and done. Again, this is another permanent signing that the Juve tifosi can be pleased with even if their main problems last season was their dismal back line and midfield at times. 

The question remains however as to whether Juventus have turned a corner with these permanent signings. Certainly the addition of Ziegler at the back will have added quality, and with Bastos and Aguero still heavily linked Juventus may well be a force to be reckoned with next season in their new arena.