Juventus leave Pogba, Buffon, 11 others at home for International Champions Cup in Melbourne

JUVENTUS stars Gianluigi Buffon and Paul Pogba won’t suit up in the International Champions Cup but the Italian giant is still set to send a tough squad to Melbourne.

Several Juventus players will miss the ICC in Melbourne after their title-winning exploits in Serie A and a tough international schedule. Picture: AFP

GUN midfielder Miralem Pjanic will spearhead Juventus’ trip to Melbourne for the International Champions Cup after the Italian giant opted to leave several stars at home.

Italy skipper Gianluigi Buffon and France midfielder Paul Pogba are among those given an extended break by the Serie A giants, following their run to the Italian Serie A title.

But the champions still have a variety of weapons to throw at Melbourne Victory and Tottenham for their two tilts at the MCG, including Argentina striker Paulo Dybala, on-loan Moroccan defender Medhi Benatia and Bosnian midfielder Pjanic.

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Dybala, 22, scored 23 goals for Juventus in his first campaign for the club and is widely considered to be one of the next global superstars of the sport.

Goal machine Paulo Dybala will provide the firepower for Juve in Melbourne. Picture: AFP

Pjanic returns to Melbourne in black and white stripes after turning out last year in the red and gold of Roma.

The absences are not surprising, given the taxing schedule of Juve players over the last 12 months.

From the club’s first pre-season match in July 2015 through to the end of the European Championships this month, seven Italian internationals were eligible for 71 matches for club and country.

GUIDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP

Giorgio Chiellini, Simone Zaza, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Stefano Sturaro and Claudio Marchisio have stayed home following their involvement in France.

German midfielder Sami Khedira, Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic, Swiss captain Stephan Lichtsteiner and France left-back Patrice Evra will also be absent from the trip.

New signing from Barcelona Dani Alves will also miss, according to Juventus’ website.

With 13 players, including Bayern Munich two-year loanee Kingsley Coman, in action at Euro 2016, Juventus provided more players than any other club.

Despite the absences, they will still provide a stern test for Victory and English Premier League Tottenham — which finished third last season — its highest spot since 1989-90.

Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon won’t make the trip down under. Picture: AFP

Juventus squad:

Alex Sandro, Asamoah, Audero, Benatia, Blanco, Cerri, Coccolo, Del Favero, Dybala, Hernanes, Kastanos, Lemina, Lirola, Loria, Macek, Marrone, Neto, Padovan, Parodi, Pereyra, Pjanic, Rosseti, Rugani, Severin, Vitale

Originally published as Juventus leave Pogba, Buffon, 11 others at home for International Champions Cup in Melbourne