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Three reasons why Juventus should keep Gonzalo Higuain this summer

By John Vaccaro

Chelsea's Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain gestures the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 10, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea's Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain gestures the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 10, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) /
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TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus gestures during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Juventus and Ajax at Juventus Stadium on April 16, 2019 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Giorgio Perottino – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus gestures during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Juventus and Ajax at Juventus Stadium on April 16, 2019 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Giorgio Perottino – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /

Gonzalo Higuain has had a rough year, but Juventus just might be able to turn things around.

I’m sure most fans want no part of Higuain right now given how poorly he played at AC Milan and Chelsea last season and it’s really hard to blame them for feeling that way. However, Higuain has a few factors working in his favour for a stay at Juventus.

1. We know he can play with Ronaldo

If there is anything Juventus fans should have learned from Paulo Dybala’s struggles last season it is that not everybody is suited to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo (or Lionel Messi in Dybala’s case). Gonzalo Higuain has never had that issue.

His numbers with Ronaldo were very impressive in spite of Ronaldo’s own goal-scoring ability and Karim Benzema keeping Higuain from ever really becoming the clear-cut #1 striker at Real. In his 4 seasons with Ronaldo, Higuain scored 27, 10, 22, and 16 La Liga goals.

These are all very respectable seasons with the exception of the 10 goal year where he only played 17 matches. The most impressive part about these numbers are that Karim Benzema was their preferred striker during that stretch of time, which means Higuain averaged 18.75 goals per season as his team’s 3rd scoring option.

Those 4 years together also happen to have produced 3 of Ronaldo’s best seasons as well with him tallying 40 goals and 11 assists, 46 goals and 12 assists, and 34 goals with 10 assists in his last 3 years with Higuain.

With Mario Mandzukic potentially on his way out and Moise Kean still very young, Higuain could be a stabilizing presence who could work with Ronaldo. If he gets back to form they would be two thirds of a dangerous attack.

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