There were a couple of notable absentees during Juventus’ 5-2 Club World Cup thrashing by Manchester City. Absences that will not have gone unnoticed among Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.
And, if this brutal destruction of the Italian giants is anything to go by, Man City’s so-called ‘banter era’ may be over before it really even begun.
To think, a third-place finish and an FA Cup final would be a success at most clubs. Not for Pep Guardiola’s former treble winners, of course.
Manchester City certainly feel like a side with a point to prove. They ripped into Juventus from the first whistle, their 5-2 victory bookended by ferocious strikes from much-maligned wing duo Jeremy Doku and Savinho.
Talking about wingers by the way, two of Juventus’ own widemen were nowhere to be seen in Orlando.
Tim Weah, a Nottingham Forest target, was not even on the Bianconeri’s 15-strong bench. The same could be said for Samuel Mbangula, another Forest-linked forward who also registered on the radar of West Ham United.
According to reports, West Ham had a bid rejected by Juventus for Mbangula in January. Graham Potter’s outfit offered just over £8 million at the time.
Now, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that Juventus have held talks with Nottingham Forest regarding a £17 million double deal for both Mbangula and Weah, should the Hammers renew their interest in the former, it appears unlikely that the two-time European Champions from Turin will stand firmly in their way.
Samuel Mbangula in action during Cagliari v Juventus - Serie A
Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images
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West Ham United target Samuel Mbangula left out by Juventus
Mbangula, like Weah, was conspicuous by his absence as Man City ran riot in Florida.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, a ‘rift’ has opened up in recent times between the Bianconeri bosses and their two exit-linked attackers. Weah’s decision to turn down a move to the City Ground has not gone down well, it seems, with a Juventus side hoping to free up funds for Jadon Sancho.
TMW add that Mbangula has reservations about moving to Nottinghamshire as well. They do not say how the Belgium Under-21 international feels about West Ham, though.
While incapable of offering European football, unlike Forest, the lure of London may potentially have the 21-year-old viewing a move to the Hammers with keener eyes.
“The pain you feel cannot be compared to the joy that is coming,” Mbangula wrote on social media after learning that he would not be part of the Juventus squad on Thursday.
The implication being, of course, that he is a young man with the resolve to overcome such difficulties.
Mbangula could leave Juventus as Serie A giants target Nayef Aguerd
Mbangula, who burst onto the scene with a glorious strike on his Serie A debut against Como in August, has arguably been hit the hardest of any Juve player by the sacking of Thiago Motta.
Motta’s replacement, Igor Tudor, does not appear to possess the same warmth or admiration towards the skilful right-winger.
“I am very happy with Mbangula,” Motta said during his brief time in the dugout. “He presses, he dribbles, he scores goals. He always has a fantastic attitude, he always gives everything.”
Speaking of Tudor, the Juventus coach left the door ajar for Nayef Aguerd last week when asked about a potential swoop for West Ham United’s £30 million forgotten man. Serie A rivals Roma have cooled their pursuit, leaving Juve as his most likely destination.
West Ham have little interest in signing Daniele Rugani, the 30-year-old Italy international with five Scudettos on his CV, in exchange, however.
The aforementioned Jadon Sancho was offered to West Ham too, as part of a deal that would have taken Mohammed Kudus to Chelsea.