Paulo Dybala has been strongly linked with a move to the Catalan capital this summer with Luis Enrique’s Barcelona reportedly having had a £61 million bid for the Argentine rejected by Juventus. TheHardTackle takes a look at three formations the Blaugrana boss could employ the 22-year-old forward in attack should he succeed in his pursuit.
Paulo Dybala has enjoyed a very successful first season, scoring 23 goals and setting up 9 others, as he helped the Bianconeri complete the domestic double with victory in the Coppa Italia last weekend to add to their Serie A honours. His eye-catching performances in a stellar season has had the best in the business line-up to snap him from the Old Lady. None so flattering as the likes of FC Barcelona as Luis Enrique continues his search for a good back-up option in attack to the Catalans’ murderous front trio in Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Barcelona have secured all honours this season except the UEFA Champions League when Atletico Madrid ended their title defence in the quarter-final stage. The relatively early ouster from the Champions’ League and a brief worrying league spell had Enrique realize the need to bring in quality back-up for his stars up-front on nights when things don’t particularly turn out as planned for the Blaugrana.
Barcelona and the MSN, who usually have opponents at their mercy, will be aware they could ill-afford a rotten spell like they endured in early April, when they went win-less in five games, should they harbour dreams of repeating their treble winning heroics from the 2014/15 season. Paulo Dybala provides a pacy option up-front for the Catalans with the skills, technique and attributes to fill in for Luis Suarez in the forward role or embrace a role in the wings. TheHardTackle works out the permutations of formations the Argentine could feature in for Barcelona should he be lured in the summer from the Old Lady to the Camp Nou.
4-3-3 (False Nine)
In what would be Dybala’s preferred position in Centre-forward, the Argentine could fill in for Luis Suarez in the center of the attack in a 4-3-3 (False-nine) formation. Dybala’s style of play mirrors that of a No.9 role retaining possession and setting up through balls for the attacking wingers.
The Argentine has seen his best form in this position and there is no reason why with his pace, dribbling skills and ability on the ball, he wouldn’t be a suitable alternative to the Blaugrana’s Uruguayan hitman. With Dybala taking the deeper No.9 role, his compatriot Messi could feature in a more attacking position in the wings, having often played in a pseudo-midfield role while turning out as an effective serviceman for Suarez and Neymar up-front. The 22-year-old has thus far embraced the duties of a center-forward in 92 games and has 32 goals and 20 assists to show for it. Barcelona felt handicapped after Luis Suarez was hauled off the pitch due to a hamstring injury in the Copa Del Rey final with his replacement Rafinha having a near negligible contribution in either the build-up play or output in the final-third. In such a scenario, Barcelona could use someone with the abilities of Dybala to give a different dimension to Barcelona’s already devastating attacking trio.
4-2-4
In a significantly more attacking formation, Enrique could deploy all his attackers in a 4-2-4 formation, which slides to a 4-3-3 occasionally with Messi taking up a position in right-midfield should the side need more control in the centre of the park. The prospect of Dybala doubling up with Luis Suarez up front in strike already has a number of fans smacking their lips with excitement. The Argentine’s pace and ability on the ball combined with Suarez’s devastating finishing is a partnership that can alone dispatch many an opponent.
Dybala could also, within this formation, drop down to a secondary forward role that will see him turn provider for Suarez should the side need more bodies in midfield behind the front-men. With a number of players in that Barcelona line-up good at taking up multi-faceted roles in attack and midfield, the versatility of his players will play to Enrique’s advantage in a 4-2-4 formation that can undergo many transitions during the course of the game without any player having to play out of position.
4-2-1-3
This formation will see Dybala feature in a less preferred right wing role with Messi taking his place in attacking midfield, behind the three forwards, as the creative brain behind Barcelona’s attacks. The 22-year-old’s pace and movement along the wings could be a big bonus for the Blaugrana when they attack on the counter. With the ability to whip in some good crosses into the box, it would be fair enough to say a role in the wings wouldn’t be completely out of the comfort zone for the budding Argentine. Dybala averages a 61% success in his take-ons and his movement around the box invites a number of fouls, with the youngster winning as many as 91 of them from oppositions trying to stop him in his tracks.
Iniesta and Busquets will feature in a two man centre midfield behind Lionel Messi in attacking midfield with the choice of formation requiring the need to sacrifice the services of someone of the likes of Ivan Rakitic or Arda Turan. In a season that has seen Messi assist 26 goals in addition to a personal strike haul of 41 goals, the attacking midfield role could see the 28-year-old get into a permanent role behind Barcelona’s three-pronged attack.
Summer move imminent?
Dybala has enjoyed a path-breaking debut season with the Bianconeri with his performances inviting interest from the likes of PSG, Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. However, Barcelona are favourites to land the signature of the talented youngster and look set to come back with an improved bid in an attempt to lure him to the Camp Nou. Not too many players in the world can keep away from the prospects of playing with the best side in the world at the highest level alongside the best in the business. With such an opportunity knocking on the door, it could only be a matter of time before the youngster considers the switch to join his compatriot Messi with the Catalans.