Darko Kovacevic, a former Juventus striker, expressed his belief that Dusan Vlahovic has the potential to ascend to the ranks of the world’s best players, given his recent explosive performances in Turin.
The 24-year-old Serbian forward has recently displayed a level of play that justifies his €80 million price tag, scoring 10 goals in his last nine Serie A matches, with only Inter and Roma managing to keep him from finding the net. After a subdued start to the season, Vlahovic has now hit his stride in the Piedmont capital.
While there were initial doubts about Vlahovic’s suitability for Juventus, with some advocating for his sale in the summer to facilitate reinvestment, his recent performances may have silenced his critics.
In an interview featured on page 21 of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Kovacevic addressed whether he was surprised by Vlahovic’s recent form at Juventus.
“No, because this is Dusan. He is – and has always been – a great striker; he just needed to rediscover his best form. His talent has never been in question. We are talking about a young but complete center forward. Simply put, he’s been in a spectacular state of form since January, and the numerous goals he’s scored are a natural consequence of that. I’m convinced and hopeful that this is only the beginning; Vlahovic is very strong and will score many goals for Juventus in the coming years.”
Kovacevic also discussed comparisons between Vlahovic and Manchester City star Erling Haaland.
“I remain convinced that Dusan can become one of the best center forwards in the world. Yes, just like Haaland.”
Finally, Kovacevic was asked if Vlahovic could realistically aim to finish the season with 25 league goals.
“Why not? If he maintains this form, I think Dusan can even score 10 more goals between now and the end of the season.”