Reigning Serie A champions, Juventus are reportedly keeping tabs on young defensive midfielder Adrián Cubas after a series of eye-catching displays during the second half of the 2015 season. Cubas played a hand in Boca Juniors’ league and cup double and his assured performances have drawn praise from his teammates and the Argentine football media. The bianconeri had Cubas named as one of four Boca youngsters they have first-option on when they agreed the deal that saw Carlos Tevez return to La Bombonera and young striker Guido Vadalá switch to Turin and they may utilise that in the near future.

Cubas has been earmarked as a potential future star for both Boca and Argentina for a couple of years ever since making his debut under Carlos Bianchi as a 17-year-old. His appearance in the first team at that point caught the attention of Juan Román Riquelme and his gradual progression from fleeting substitute appearances to his status as an important squad member suggests that his development is going as planned.

Juventus’ interest in Cubas was made official when his name, along with Franco Cristaldo, Cristian Pavón and Rodrigo Bentancur, was listed as a player that the old lady of Italian football would have the first-option to buy as part of the Carlos Tevez transfer to Boca. All four have shown flashes of their potential but Cubitas is now at the front of that line and looking the most likely to breakthrough.

Even Tevez himself was impressed when he arrived back in Buenos Aires: “The player who surprised me since I came back, and that if he continues will be a great player, is Cubitas. He is a phenomenon and gives me the feeling that there is no limit to what he could achieve.” 

Juventus obviously agree and it is reported that vice-president and former playing legend, Pavel Nedvěd is taking a closer look at Cubas.

Boca, meanwhile, are adamant that Cubas will remain at the club for at least the near future ahead of an important Copa Libertadores campaign in 2016. The diminuitive Argentine number five has been with Boca since the age of twelve and will not be in any great rush to leave having not yet cemented a place in the first team. If his development continues a move to Europe is inevitable but Cubas should not make the mistake of moving too early.

A cultured ball winner in the middle, Cubas more than makes up for his slight frame with his busy pressing style and excellent passing. Much like Matías Kranevitter, Cubas has an awareness of space and his teammates that is often lacking in young players but unlike many archetypal number fives, whose sole purpose is to destroy, Cubitas is capable to join in and help link the attack from deep. His first goal for Boca, in this year’s Copa Argentina proves that.