Transfer Profile: Mario Mandzukic

By: Ryan Bode

Old Team: Atletíco Madrid

New Team: Juventus

Basic Demographics

The emphatic striker from Croatia has made many headlines in the past couple years. Mandzukic has moved around from the top teams in Europe all in the past four years (FC Bayern, Atletico Madrid, and now Juventus). The 29 year-old can be seen playing striker most of the time, but is also capable of playing the wings on top as well. He has been on the Croatia national team since 2007 and has participated in two major tournaments for Croatia (2012 UEFA Euro’s and 2014 World Cup). He is also very accomplished, winning Champions League and Bundesliga with FC Bayern along with Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2013.

What Was His Transfer Fee?

Juventus is trying to gather up all the strikers that they can get in order to prepare themselves for the impending loss of Carlos Tevez. Juventus bought Super Mario from Atletico for €19,000,000 ($21,2363,300), which is a good buy for a player at this stage of his career.  Atletico Madrid actually lost money during this transfer, buying him from Bayern for €22,000,000 ($24,589,400). Juventus looks really good for getting him under his actual current value (€26,000,000) and Atletico fans are miserable for not profiting on the Super Mario.

What He Brings For Juventus?

He brings a safety net for Juventus when Carlos Tevez leaves to go back to Argentina and if Paulo Dybala struggles in Serie A. Mandzukic also brings a winning mentality to Juventus. While Juventus has dominated the Italian League, Juventus fell just short of winning Champions League in 2014/15 in the finals versus FC Barcelona. Mandzukic knows what it takes to win Champions League since being a part of the FC Bayern team that won the whole thing in 2012/13. He can bring that to Juventus and show the young players what it takes to win it all. Mandzukic also brings the aerial presence that a possession team like Juventus desperately needs. A possession team tends to send more crosses into the box more than other teams, and with Mario standing at 6’2’’, he is one of the taller strikers, allowing him to go above the defense and head the ball into the back of the net. He also is known as a ball hawk, just like Drogba with being able to convert goals within the 5 yard box.

What Are His Outlooks?

The Good

Super Mario not only scores goals through the air for Juventus, but also scores with his teammates. He starts to share his knowledge with the younger Dybala and mentor him, molding him into the future for Juventus. In addition to this, he becomes as good, if not better, than Tevez ever was. Along with having a good foot to shoot with, he converts on many crosses that Pogba sends into the box. Juventus remains at the top of Serie A while threatening to win Champions League again with Mario. Mario will decline a little for Juventus due to his age but it will be much slower than other players, allowing Juventus the possibility to sell him when he is in his mid-30’s for a major profit.

The Bad

Super Mario turns into more of a bench role for Juventus. He will be rotating off the bench between Dybala who will be getting a majority of the playing time. He still will contribute for Juventus through the air and getting headers into the back of the net, while it might not be as much as Juventus hoped to begin with. Mandzukic also slows down at a quicker rate although he is only turning 30 this upcoming season. Juventus, if sold, would make no profit or even take a loss.

All transfer information included in this and other Transfer Profile’s comes from transfermarkt.com