Renato Veiga celebrates with his new team-mates after the win over Empoli (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO … [+]
Having only joined Juventus last week, Renato Veiga was thrown straight into the starting XI and helped his new side to a much-needed victory against Empoli as the Turin giants ran out 4-1 winners.
Indeed, the defender’s loan move from Chelsea was only confirmed on Monday. A statement on Juve’s official website revealed they had paid the Premier League outfit €3.8 million ($3.94 million to sign Veiga.
With a further €1.7 million ($1.76 million) in potential bonuses for a player who will return to Stamford Bridge in June, it is a substantial investment from the Bianconeri which underlines their current predicament.
Why Juventus brought in Renato Veiga
Indeed, with Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal basically ruled out for the rest of the season, Juve’s defence was dealt further blows as Pierre Kalulu, Nicolò Savona and Andrea Cambiaso all picked up knocks.
That has led to Tim Weah and Weston McKennie filling in, and ultimately prompted the Bianconeri to make a move for Veiga, with Francisco Conceicao helping to convince his international team-mate to join the club.
“When I heard that Renato Veiga could be coming to Juve,” Conceicao told reporters last week, “I called him to tell him that he would be joining a great club and I tried to convince him, because I believe he can help us.”
The move completes a circle in many ways, with Veiga – a product of the Sporting CP youth sector – having previously been signed by Basel when the Swiss side sold Riccardo Calafiori to Bologna.
The Italy defender would thrive under Thiago Motta and ultimately earn last summer’s move to Arsenal, while Veiga would shine brightly enough to convince Chelsea to pay €14 million ($14.51 million) for him back in July.
Yet he found his opportunities limited under Enzo Maresca and was rarely deployed in his favoured role in central defence. The Chelsea boss used him in midfield and at full-back, with Veiga managing just one start and six substitute appearances in the Premier League before being shipped out.
Renato Veiga’s impressive debut
Those aforementioned injury problems meant that Veiga was given a place in the starting XI for his first Serie A game this past weekend, partnering Federico Gatti in the middle of Juve’s backline.
As discussed in this previous column, the Bianconeri conceded a quick goal to Empoli, but after that they overran the Tuscan side to eventually run out 4-1 winners and there was no doubt that Veiga had played his part.
It was impossible to miss the 21-year-old as he made some eye-catching contributions, not least of which were superb goal saving blocks on shots by Lorenzo Colombo and Liberato Cacace.
By the final whistle, Veiga – who played all 90+ minutes – had racked up impressive stats with WhoScored.com showing that he also contributed three tackles, four clearances and won three of the four aerial duels he contested.
The same source showed that he completed 35 of his 41 pass attempts (85% accuracy), with Motta noting the importance of his distribution when he spoke during his traditional post-game press duties.
“I saw many players take responsibility on the field today and we took home what we deserved,” the Coach told DAZN. “We know our priority is to pass our way out from the back when possible, as it keeps us compact and we can attack with strength.”
“Renato Veiga immediately understood his role,” Motta added at his post-match press conference “and in a great team with large responsibilities and he did very well today.”
It was an ideal start to life in Turin, but – after taking on Como next week – much sterner tests await. Juventus face two UEFA Champions League games against PSV, with a Derby d’Italia clash with Inter sandwiched between them, a run of games that will weigh heavily on the Bianconeri.
They will hope that Renato Veiga can continue in this kind of form.
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