While some stars round off a long and storied spell with a farewell befitting of their status, others fade into the sunset without receiving a proper sendoff. Sadly for Juan Cuadrado, he falls into the second category, with his eight years at Juventus reaching an abrupt end away from the spotlight.
The management opted against extending the Colombian’s contract which expired at the end of June, possibly in retaliation to the player’s automatic renewal last season which didn’t sit well with the hierarchy.
But whatever the reason may be, the crowds at the Allianz Stadium weren’t afforded the chance to bid their beloved Vespa farewell, as the final decision was made after the end of the campaign. Instead, the 35-year-old merely received a “thank you” message from the club through its social channels in addition to a compilation video.
So while Cuadrado didn’t receive a fitting “Adios” from the club, we’ll try to do him justice by recalling his five most memorable moments from his eventful Juventus spell.
5. No Mercy for Old Comrades
Juventus 1-0 Fiorentina (Serie A 2021/22)
As the vast majority of Juventus supporters would testify, Massimiliano Allegri’s second reign at the club has been anything but scintillating. The meeting between the Bianconeri and their hated rivals Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in November 2021 serves as an example of the uninspiring brand of football displayed in the Black-and-White half of Turin in the last couple of years.
This was another cagey affair with neither side willing to take the initiative, but Nikola Milenkovic’s dismissal gave the numerical advantage to the home side in the final stretch.
So while the Viola were hellbent on defending a satisfying stalemate until the final second, Juventus needed an elegant piece of skill to break the Tuscan resistance, and they found it in the crazy legs of Cuadrado.
The Colombian stormed into the box, skipped past Cristiano Biraghi with some neat footwork, and while most observers expected him to pick up an opponent, he instead decided to go for the goal himself and score an injury-time winner against his former employers.
If the fabulous goal wasn’t enchanting enough, the ensuing dance moves certainly did the trick.
4. The Scorcher That Rocked Inter’s Net
Juventus 1-0 Inter (Serie A 2016/17)
A common question among fans and observers alike is the following: “What are the attributes required for a footballer to become a bona fide club legend?”
While the standards surely vary between one person and another, most fans would agree that a club hero is someone who rises on grand occasions. And for Juventus fans, it doesn’t get any bigger than the Derby d’Italia.
For his part, Cuadrado almost always took his game up a notch when facing Inter. Ironically, his last goal for the Old Lady came in a Coppa Italia fixture against the Nerazzurri (though it ended with his dismissal following an ugly melee after the final whistle).
But his most famous goal against the Beneamata – and arguably the best goal of his entire career – came in the form of a smashing volley that almost tore the net behind the hapless Samir Handanovic.
The sheer ferocity, power and precision behind that strike remain jaw-dropping after all those years.
3. The Goal That Stunned Munich
Bayern 4-2 (AET) Juventus (Champions League 2015/16)
Sadly for Juventus fans, their team was on the cusp of stunning a terrifying Bayern Munich side at the Allianz Arena, but just couldn’t hold on to their lead for a few additional minutes. Thomas Muller’s injury-time equalizer forced an extra-time. At that point, the momentum and energy were in favor of the Bavarians, so there could only be one winner.
Nevertheless, the great effort displayed by Allegri’s men remains admirable. Until this day, Juventus fans still remember that Cuadrado strike with a smile on their face despite the regrettable ending.
It all started with a breathtaking run from Alvaro Morata who left his opponents in the dust. The Spaniard teed up La Vespa who kept his composure, dribbled past an opponent before beating Manuel Neuer with a clinical finish that gave the Italian club a healthy 2-0 lead at the heart of Munich.
A glorious memory despite the sorrowful conclusion.
Bonus: Direct Corner Kick Goal
Juventus 2-0 Genoa (Serie A 2021/22)
This one may not be a deeply-cemented memorable moment as the other entries on the list, but then again, how many players can pick up the back of the net from a direct corner kick?
Certainly not that many.
Whether it was intentional or not, the winger’s corner kick against Genoa’s Salvatore Sirigu remains one for the archives.
2. Dragging Juventus to UCL
Juventus 3-2 Inter (Serie A 2020/21)
In the 2020/21 season, the Bianconeri saw their nine-year winning streak collapse as they finished the campaign fourth under the guidance of the inexperienced Andrea Pirlo. Yet, this was arguably the best season for Cuadrado at Juventus on a personal level.
The Colombian was catapulting assists throughout the season, establishing himself as a true pillar in a squad that featured the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala. But despite his flurry of assists, he had to wait until the 37th Matchday of the season to score his first goal.
As always, the veteran picked his timing to perfection. The Bianconeri were up against their Inter rivals who had officially uncrowned them by mathematically securing the Scudetto title. The Nerazzurri were looking to add insult to injury by ending their rivals’ Champions League hopes.
But once again, Cuadrado proved to be Inter’s ultimate boogeyman. The wingback cemented himself as the Old Lady’s hero amid a chaotic rollercoaster that ended with a 3-2 win for the home side.
For his part, the former Udinese man scored from a long-range shot in the first half, before securing an invaluable victory by winning and converting a last-gasp spot-kick at a time when Juventus were reduced to 10 men.
Therefore, the club owes its Champions League qualification to the Colombian’s heroics.
1. The Goal That Sparked the Epic Comeback
Juventus 2-1 Torino (Serie A 2015/16)
As they say, the first goal remains the most memorable. However, that’s not the reason why we placed Cuadrado’s maiden Juventus strike on top of the list.
As any Bianconeri fan would tell you, this last-minute winner against Torino was simply priceless.
Juventus were enduring a torrid start of the season that saw them reside in the bottom half of the Serie A standing. So even though the display was forgettable and the winner was scrappy, this was the moment that evoked the true Bianconeri spirit. It was the flame that kickstarted one of the most epic Scudetto comebacks.
After beating their crosstown rivals, Juventus never looked back, putting together a stunning winning streak that placed them on top of the table by February, leaving all challengers in their wake.
So what this goal lacked in aesthetics, it more than made up for it in terms of value. All in all, it remains the most iconic Cuadrado moment at Juventus.
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