Juventus, please don't sacrifice Mbanguela.
After avenging AC Milan with a victory, the feeling of satisfaction finally returned. It seemed to have become a luxury as the season progressed, but in fact, it was as early as the start of the league when the Belgian youngster from the second team brought joy and surprises to the fans. In his first appearance and start for the Juventus first team, he helped the team achieve one goal and one assist. Judging by the dramatic nature, he was simply the chosen one of Motta's Juventus.
Mbanguela is undoubtedly Motta's most outstanding masterpiece at Juventus so far (perhaps alongside placing McKennie at right-back), and his promotion from the second team is also his most successful "creative invention," demonstrating considerable courage. Many people may have forgotten that before the first round of the league, the background was that Juventus' pre-season warm-up matches were in poor form, and Motta had not yet officially taken office. He joined forces with Giuntoli to exclude Chiesa from the team plan under immense pressure, despite widespread confusion. Motta sent on Mbanguela, a name that the majority of fans had never heard of.
Today, however, Mbanguela has become an unforgettable player for the fans. Before the game, Motta praised him, saying, "He deserves to play because he has performed exceptionally well, and today he can help everyone." Consistently, Mbanguela has shown more stability than many experienced players, and it is evident that he is a selfless team player. After the game, Motta further commented, "He provided tremendous assistance in every aspect. He trains hard and has never missed a match due to injury or suspension. Every time he steps onto the field, he makes significant contributions to the team. This is not only reflected in scoring goals but also in many other aspects." Motta's judgment proved accurate, as Mbanguela's performance was indeed convincing.
Similarly, there was a period when Mbanguela was inexplicably benched, which could be considered Motta's biggest mistake. This was during the phase where Motta was trying to force high-priced new signings into the starting lineup. As a result, we saw that from the fifth round to the seventeenth round, Mbanguela only played more than 20 minutes in one match, during which Juventus' record was four wins and eight draws.
The facts prove that Mbanguela deserves more trust. In the Italian Super Cup semi-final, it was his long-range dribbling that created space for Yeldiz and delivered a precise assist. In the draw against Torino, before he was substituted, Mbanguela could still cross with his weaker foot using his individual ability, and after he left the field, Juventus hardly mounted any meaningful attacks. In the previous round against Atalanta, it was also regrettable that Yeldiz had a clear chance at the end of the game, with Mbanguela arriving unmarked at the back post for a potential tap-in, but Yeldiz chose to shoot himself and later apologized specifically for his decision-making on that play.
In terms of player combinations, Mbanguela serves as an excellent deputy, taking on many dribbling tasks for Yeldiz, wearing down opponents while fully utilizing Yeldiz's finishing abilities on the other side. During the games when Xiao Conceicao was injured, Motta quickly established a reasonable system, with the key being Mbanguela. Theoretically, the right flank with Yeldiz and McKennie is the strong side, while Mbanguela's side is the weak side but more variable. Players like Nico Gonzalez and Kumpaenans sometimes drift towards this side, and Mbanguela's goal had an element of luck but was also a result of the attacking opportunities Juventus created. Vai's second goal also originated from Mbanguela's proactive tackle, where he dispossessed Milan midfielder Fofana while off-balance and smoothly passed the ball to a teammate nearby.
Throughout the game, Juventus displayed wave after wave of "Motta's style," benefiting from the emptiness in Milan's midfield, and Juventus' beautiful football returned. Except for Vlahovic not starting, this should be the strongest lineup Juventus can currently field, with other players providing support or supplementation. After half a season, Motta has finally found a stable setup, and this setup must include Mbanguela's name.
Before the winter transfer window opened, Mbanguela was considered the most likely player to be sold because he is a product of the youth academy, having just been selected for the senior national team, and because he has increased in value. However, Juventus has already sacrificed enough young talents. Last summer, Juventus raised over 70 million euros by selling second-team players. Now that the overall framework of the team has been established, it would be best to stop here and retain a few players who truly suit the team and love the club. After all, the risk of spending big money on foreign players is also significant, as seen with Douglas Luiz, who has yet to integrate into the system.
The good news is that Mbanguela's name has been temporarily removed from Juventus' list of players for sale, but Cambiasso has become embroiled in rumors. It is certain that if Motta had the choice, he would not sell this trusted player, at least not agree to sell him mid-season. Despite recent criticism from fans due to his form, players like Cambiasso, Yeldiz, and Mbanguela represent Juventus' future and can carry the hopes and expectations of the fans.