Pro Sports

DV7: Juventus finds its replacement for Ronaldo in VlahoviÄ‡

Posted January 28, 2022 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Coveted striker Dusan Vlahovic waves as he arrives for a medical at Juventus grounds in Turin, Italy, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Vlahovic was undergoing a medical on Friday to complete what is expected to be one of the biggest moves of the transfer window. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

TURIN, Italy (AP) - It's taken five months but Juventus has finally found a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Coveted striker DuÅ¡an VlahoviÄ‡ completed a 70-million-euro ($80-million) transfer from Fiorentina on Friday on his 22nd birthday and will wear the No. 7 shirt vacated by Ronaldo.

'œToday is really a special day for me and one of the most special and happy birthdays I've ever experienced so far,'ť VlahoviÄ‡ 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 'œCR7.'ť VlahoviÄ‡ wore No. 9 for Fiorentina.

Juventus said VlahoviÄ‡ signed a deal through June 2026 and that the transfer fee also could include up to 10 million euros ($11 million) in bonuses.

VlahoviÄ‡ has 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 - fewer than any of the top 10 teams in the Italian league, apart from Torino.

VlahoviÄ‡, 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.

Juventus is also without injured winger Federico Chiesa.

In an unusual move, Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso announced in October that VlahoviÄ‡ would not renew his contract with the Tuscan club, which was due to expire in 2023. That made VlahoviÄ‡ a hot commodity on the transfer market and he was also targeted by Arsenal.

VlahoviÄ‡ immediately swore allegiance to Juventus, which is two spots ahead of Fiorentina in the league standings.

'œJuventus represents pride, tradition, family," VlahoviÄ‡ said. "Juventus is always there until the end and never gives up.'ť

Along with Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi, VlahoviÄ‡ joins a growing list of former Fiorentina players at Juventus.

'œDusan VlahoviÄ‡ continues to amaze. Last year he was the best young player in Serie A, this year he is living up to great expectations by proving himself to be one of the best players this season,'ť Serie A chief executive Luigi De Siervo said after VlahoviÄ‡ was named the league's player of the month for December.

'œPhysical strength, technique, a spirit of sacrifice and a great sense of goal make him one of the most complete forwards around.'ť

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Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic fires a shot during the Italian Cup, round of 16 soccer match between Napoli and Fiorentina, at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Coveted striker Dusan Vlahovic gives the thumbs up as he arrives for a medical at Juventus grounds in Turin, Italy, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Vlahovic was undergoing a medical on Friday to complete what is expected to be one of the biggest moves of the transfer window. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic celebrates scoring during the Italian Cup, round of 16 soccer match between Napoli and Fiorentina, at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Fiorenta's Dusan Vlahovic, foreground and Napoli's Axel Tuanzebe battle for the ball during the Italian Cup, round of 16 soccer match between Napoli and Fiorentina, at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic, right, celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Fiorentina and Genoa at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Firenze, Italy, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

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