TURIN, Jan 29: It’s taken five months but Juventus has finally found a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Coveted striker Dušan Vlahović completed a 70-million-euro transfer from Fiorentina on Friday on his 22nd birthday and will wear the No. 7 shirt vacated by Ronaldo.
“Today is really a special day for me and one of the most special and happy birthdays I’ve ever experienced so far,” Vlahović said after Juventus presented him with a cake and candle in the team’s changing room at Allianz Stadium.
Juventus’ tweet announcing the move included the hashtag “DV7” – a take on Ronaldo’s “CR7.” Vlahović wore No. 9 for Fiorentina. Juventus said Vlahović signed a deal through June 2026 and that the transfer fee also could include up to 10 million euros in bonuses.
Vlahović scored 20 goals in 24 matches in all competitions for Fiorentina this season and is joint top of the Serie A scoring charts, along with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile.
In fifth place, Juventus had struggled to replace Ronaldo since his move to Manchester United in August. The Bianconeri have scored only 34 goals this season.
Vlahović, a Serbia international, could be the perfect player to change that, having just matched Ronaldo’s feat of scoring 33 league goals in a calendar year.
Vlahović was a hot commodity on the transfer market and he was also targeted by Arsenal. (AP)
