Juventus have been looking for stability in midfield since Khéphren Thuram’s lengthy absence disrupted Luciano Spalletti’s options, and Pape Matar Sarr is beginning to offer it. The Senegal midfielder arrived from Tottenham on loan at the end of the transfer window, initially as cover, but his recent performances have made him a more regular part of the side as the season gathers pace.
A gradual route into Spalletti’s midfield
- Sarr made his Juventus debut from the bench during the difficult defeat against Sassuolo.
- He was then handed his first start in the Europa League against NEC, where his forward run helped create the move that led to Weston McKennie’s second Juventus goal.
- After another substitute appearance against Atalanta before the international break, he started consecutive matches against Cagliari and Celta Vigo.
- He also came through Senegal duty without apparent problems, playing 63 minutes across the matches against Mozambique and Comoros, while remaining unused against Ethiopia.
- Juventus now return immediately to league action against leaders Lazio, with Sarr expected to line up beside Douglas Luiz.
Spalletti has already rebuilt Douglas Luiz’s place in the team. The Brazilian, signed for €50 million in the summer of 2024 after impressing at Aston Villa, has returned to prominence as Juventus’ first-choice deep midfielder. Sarr has brought a different element alongside him: running power, ball recovery and the capacity to carry play forward after winning possession.
After the player’s first appearance, Spalletti highlighted Sarr’s endurance and running while also praising his tidiness in possession. The coach has described him as a thoroughbred, a reference not only to his physical output but to the range of work he has begun to provide in the centre of the pitch.
Vigo offered the clearest evidence
Sarr’s display in Vigo was his strongest since joining Juventus. He completed 65 passes, more than any teammate, from 86 touches of the ball. He won five of nine duels, intercepted three passes and recovered possession five times.
There was attacking intent as well. Sarr attempted four shots: one was on target, one went wide, one was blocked and another was saved. His late right-footed effort from outside the area forced Radu into a save.
Those numbers reflected a player increasingly comfortable with the demands of a Juventus shirt. With Thuram unavailable, the team need athleticism and defensive work beside Douglas Luiz’s distribution, particularly during a period in which the calendar leaves little recovery time between fixtures.
Balance remains the next test
The progress is clear, though it is not yet a finished process. Juventus allowed too much space through midfield against Celta Vigo, enabling the Spanish side to launch several dangerous counter-attacks against an exposed defence.
Sarr was not alone in that problem. Teun Koopmeiners, his partner in central midfield in Spain, again struggled to make a consistent influence despite supplying the long cross from which Woltemade scored Juventus’ equaliser.
Against Lazio, Sarr is set to return alongside Douglas Luiz, offering Spalletti a more familiar pairing for a demanding league evening. His loan agreement includes a €27.5 million purchase option from Tottenham, so the next stages of his Juventus season may carry consequences beyond the immediate need for midfield depth.
