Hernanes joined Juventus in 2015 as one of the most highly regarded midfielders in Serie A, but his role at the club differed significantly from the one he previously held at Lazio and Inter Milan.
At Juventus, he faced stronger competition for places and struggled to establish himself after being asked to adapt to a new position within the team structure. The Brazilian has since reflected on his experience at the Allianz Stadium.
Adapting To A New Role
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Much was expected of Hernanes upon his arrival in Turin, but he found opportunities limited as Juventus already had several established players in his preferred position. This situation required him to adjust his approach and responsibilities on the pitch.
He explained that the tactical demands placed on him were significantly different from what he had experienced earlier in his career, forcing him to take a deeper midfield role and refine his decision-making under pressure.
Hernanes told [Tuttomercatoweb](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/hernanes-lasciai-lazio-vincere-all-inter-periodo-transizione-juve-2248418) that his role as a deep-lying playmaker required significant adaptation.
“At Juventus, I played as a deep-lying playmaker, and, football-wise, it wasn’t the best for me. Being a Brazilian player, a playmaker and instinctive, I had to relearn how to play.
“Before, I did a lot of things instinctively. As a director, I had to learn to think more, and in the end, it was a journey I really enjoyed.”
Competition And Juventus Ambition
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When Hernanes joined Juventus, the squad already featured several world-class players, making competition for places extremely demanding and limiting consistent opportunities for rotation.
Despite this, the environment pushed every player to maintain high standards in training and matches, reflecting the intensity within the squad during that period.
The Brazilian’s time in Turin came during a successful era for the club, where internal competition was viewed as essential to maintaining performance levels across all competitions.
Juventus’ depth and quality in every position ensured that only players performing at the highest level could secure regular starting roles throughout the season.