Juventus star Dybala claims Messi and Ronaldo would score less in Serie A
Paulo Dybala, Juventus’ rising star, has claimed that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would not score as much in Serie A as they do in La Liga. The Argentine is considered the heir to Barcelona talisman Messi in some quarters, and also noted his aim to win the Ballon d’Or, while hoping to have a long career with Juventus.
Speaking to Italian outlet Tuttusport, Dybala opined that the lack of tactical nous in La Liga enables Ronaldo and Messi’s scoring records, saying “I will say that in Italy there is much better defending and it's a tactical type of football.”
“The little clubs do not play in a wild and careless way as they do in Spain, although Atletico Madrid are changing this mentality. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would not have scored 80-90 goals in Italy. Perhaps they would get 40 like Higuain but not 80.”
Dybala’s comments came right after his 16 goals in the Serie A season propelled Juventus to a 5th consecutive Scudetto. His opinion that the Barcelona and RealMadrid duo, who regularly plunder 50 or more goals in La Liga, would not do the same in Serie A is shared by Inter Milan and former Atletico Madrid defender Miranda, who said “Here in Italy, they would not arrive in front of the net as often as they do in Spain because teams are a lot more organised tactically.”
Dybala wants Juventus stay and Ballon d’Or
Dybala has often been compared to compatriot Lionel Messi, and revealed that it does not faze him, saying “It is pleasing and the comparison doesn't weigh on me. It means that if you commit and work hard you can become one of the greats. I don't know if I'll become like Messi, but my objective is to win the Ballon d'Or.”
Dybala has a long way to go to emulate Messi's 5 Ballons d’Or, but that hasn’t stopped him from being linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, the Argentine star revealed that he would be perfectly happy to emulate Juventus greats such as Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon in seeing out their careers in Turin.
When quizzed about his future, Dybala was forthcoming in his views, saying “Yes, I can picture that. Their story fascinates me: 20 years with the same shirt makes you a legend. I cannot promise it, because it is not only up to me, but it would be wonderful to win what they've won and stay at Juventus forever.”