31 August 2015
Juventus’ new signing boasts a fine pedigree of scoring and creating goals from a variety of central positions.
Born in Recife, Hernanes is a product of the Sao Paolo youth academy. After breaking into the first-team in 2005, he would find the net 18 times and provide 22 assists across five years, during which he scooped two Brazilian League titles and, on a personal level, two Silver Balls and the Brazilian Footballer of the Year award in 2008.
Impressive performances in South America resulted in a transfer across the Atlantic in 2010 to Lazio, with whom he averaged over a goal every four games, netting 42 times in 156 appearances across all competitions. He also turned provider on 22 occasions for the Biancocelesti, for whom he was deployed in a range of roles spanning from trequartista to deep-lying playmaker.
In comparison to his midfield counterparts in Serie A, Hernanes created almost double the number of chances, averaging 1.68 per match, while also completing twice as many dribbles and retaining possession with greater regularity during his full final year with the Roman outfit in 2012/13 – a season that culminated in a famous Coppa Italia triumph over city rivals Roma.
A move to Inter followed in January 2014, where the 30-year-old continued to be a prominent force in his side’s attacking moves. In 52 appearances for the Nerazzurri, Hernanes provided 10 assists, while getting on the scoresheet on seven occasions, three of which incidentally came against his former club.
He increased his chance creation rate to 1.92 per game during 2014/15, while continuing to show an ability to beat his marker, completing almost twice the average number of dribbles by Serie A midfielders.
Hernanes, who won the 2013 Confederations Cup with the Brazilian national team, will look now to influence games in the final third for Juventus under the stewardship of Massimiliano Allegri, a manager noted for getting the best out of creative men in the middle of the park.
