“I’m struggling only playing a game every now and then,” Medhi Benatia told La Stampa recently, the Moroccan defender bemoaning the lack of action he had seen through the first few months of the 2018/19 campaign. It was the first whisper of discontent at Juventus, and it came from a member of the squad who was by no means guaranteed a regular place in the starting XI when the season got underway.
Indeed, the summer was one filled with understandable excitement from Juve fans. Not only had the Old Lady managed to prise Cristiano Ronaldo away from Real Madrid, but she also boasted the kind of depth that any side would love to have. Across social media, supporters shared graphics of two full starting lineups, the nominal reserve team boasting talent such as Mattia Perin, Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi – players who would walk into the first choice XI of any other Serie A club.
Reeling off ten wins to start the season, Coach Max Allegri made the most of the sheer volume of quality players at his disposal, resting and rotating his team in order to keep everybody fresh. With one foot already in the Champions League knockout phase and a six-point cushion over their domestic rivals, the hopeful expectation that began in July looks well-placed.
Yet that hasn’t been enough to keep Benatia’s displeasure in-house. “Last year I did well because I had more consistency, unfortunately, I don’t have it this year,” he continued in that same interview. “It’s part of my job, and I work to always be ready, but it’s not a pleasant situation. It’s normal that I’m not enjoying it, I’m 31 and I want to play as much as possible.”
That view is wholly understandable, the former AS Roma and Bayern Munich man thriving in 2017/18 as Giorgio Chiellini’s regular partner, only to be relegated back to the bench when Leonardo Bonucci returned from AC Milan. “Let’s see what happens, how I’m used, if Juve still need me, if [Coach Max] Allegri still wants me…” Benatia continued when asked about the possibility of a January exit. “I’m available to the team, as long as I’m here I’ll give my all. If I’m needed in the Champions League I’ll be ready.”
He continues to be useful, which he was able to prove again last weekend when Allegri opted to leave out Bonucci when Juve faced the Rossoneri at San Siro. Fearing his former fans would boo the Italian international, Benatia stepped in and delivered an excellent performance as the graphic in the tweet above highlights. He did see a penalty awarded against him after using his hand to impede Gonzalo Higuain’s progress in the box, only to look on as the Argentinian’s effort was saved by Wojciech Szczesny.
That incident aside, Benatia played very very well, underlining his importance to the Bianconeri and there would be no shortage of offers for his services if he does indeed move on in January. Various reports in Italy and the UK have linked him with Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester United, and there is little doubt that his presence would improve the backline at any of those three clubs.
“When you are in a big team there’s time when you have to sit out,” Allegri told reporters at a recent press conference when asked about Benatia’s comments. “I think he played 50% of our games so far. He's an important player.” The Coach’s calculation was slightly off given that the defender has started six of his side’s 16 competitive games this term, but there is little doubt that he will be an essential member of the squad in the coming months.
What is notable is that the outburst came just a few days after Juve’s trip to Empoli where Chiellini pulled a muscle in the warm up. Daniele Rugani took his place and perhaps not being given that start angered Benatia, who seems to have no issue being the club’s third choice central defender, a position he obviously knew he was in coming into this season.
But such is the path he chose for himself. He is very clearly a step below Bonucci and Chiellini, but – perhaps outside of Inter who have Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij – Benatia would be a sure-fire starter at any other team in Serie A. Whether or not he opts to continue being a backup at an elite team or take a step down in order to secure regular playing time is a difficult decision, and one he should think through carefully before the transfer window reopens.
Any club would be lucky to have him, the question now is whether Medhi Benatia values a regular starting berth over the chance at a Champions League winner’s medal that comes with being Cristiano Ronaldo’s team-mate.
