Juventus welcome another signing, and Wayne Girard assesses how French international Khephren Thuram will be deployed under new manager Thiago Motta.
We must assume that in private conversation, Juventus legend Lilian Thuram surely played a heavy hand in pushing his son, Khephren, towards his former club, even if not much convincing should be needed when sensing the optimism that surrounds Juventus at the moment.
The Bianconeri have just landed one of the most intriguing managers in world football, secured the net for the future with Michele Di Gregorio, a major coup for Douglas Luiz, and have a few other big names on the horizon.
If it’s up to Thiago Motta, the Old Lady will be playing high-flying, possession-based total football next season. Keep in mind Thuram will get to enjoy some sibling rivalry as well, with brother Marcus Thuram having won the Scudetto in his inaugural season with Inter. These are exciting prospects for a 23-year-old.
Over in Nice, Khephren emerged as a player who overcomes opponents with speed and endurance, with a talent for breaking the lines from defensive areas within the midfield. This led him to win the Crédit Agricole Young Player of the Year award, as voted upon by Nice fans, as he won them over with his spirited performances week in and week out.
Thuram has accumulated over 4,600 minutes in the last two seasons in just the league alone. He’s had a rapid ascent since signing for Le Gym as a teenager in 2019, following the expiration of his youth contract with Monaco. Along with his importance at club level, the centre-midfielder has emerged as a dependable fixture in France’s youth and first team.
The French international rounded off last season with an average of 44 passes per match when starting, 35 successful dribbles, and won half of all duels. He featured many more assists than goals, acting as the support system rather than a true attacking midfielder. While he began his career as a defensive midfielder, he transitioned into a left-sided player in a 4-4-2, and most recently, as the most advanced player in the midfield trident.
At 1.92m (6’3”), Thuram is a difficult player to come up against (and reminiscent of another French midfielder of Juventus), but quick feet provide him with balance throughout his game, making him a versatile option for Motta. A manager who demands a tight midfield, Thuram will be a fantastic addition in transition and overloading the opponent’s middle third, as well as breaking up the play as a disruptor. Characteristics of a true No.8.
His greatest skill of all, though, is a rare talent that seems to have died off as of recently. Perhaps it’s tactics and orchestrated team movements, or even the demand for positive statistics, but taking touches and driving forward in the midfield has become a sort of lost art. That’s what Thuram likes to do best: To carry and dribble while linking up with teammates in the final third. If Motta can utilise this skill as he’s done with players who love to burst forward like Riccardo Calafiori, he could be the manager to unleash Thuram’s game to the next level.
The only caveat is whether or not Thuram can ply his trade with a possession-first manager, as his best moments came under Didier Digard, who invited pressure to plug in counter-attacks. Surely, the physicality of his game will make it tough for any opponent to get the better off, regardless of match strategy.
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