Former Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli has urged Juventus forward Paulo Dybala to forget comparisons to Lionel Messi and become the new Alessandro Del Piero.
Dybala joined the Old Lady in 2015 from fellow Serie A side Palermo and has proven to be a fantastic acquisition, netting 19 league goals in his opening season.
This campaign may not be as productive as last term on a personal note for Dybala – he has netted just eight goals in 25 league games so far – but his all round performances are prompting plenty of interest.
Dybala’s stunning performance in the 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona last week only went further to raising his profile, particularly after he out-shone compatriot Messi in Turin.
Messi is a player Dybala has been likened to on several occasions in the past, but Vialli has urged him to follow in the path of Juventus icon Del Piero.
“I’d like that in his head he’s thought of becoming the new [Alessandro] Del Piero for the future,” Vialli told Gazzetta dello Sport. “And I’d like him to say he’ll stay at Juventus for 10 years. Neymar says it. [Gareth] Bale says it.
“And Juve are not less than Barca or Real. And I’d also like him to take the number 10 shirt, because he is the one. Messi? From the moment you win a big trophy, well, you can bring in certain players.”
Del Piero is widely regarded by experts in the game as one of the greatest players of his generation, most notably spending 19 years with Juventus where he netted nearly 300 goals in just over 700 games.
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