Aaron Ramsey to Juventus: Arsenal midfielder will aim to make his own mark in Turin just like Wales legend John Charles did

Aaron Ramsey to Juventus: Arsenal midfielder will aim to make his own mark in Turin just like Wales legend John Charles did
Football fans had their collective minds blown when Aaron Ramseys reportedpaypacket was revealed following his decision to leave Arsenal and sign for Juventus.Many Brits players have tried and failed to cut it abroad.Gareth Bale has won multiple trophies in Spain,whileJadon Sancho has become an England international at Borussia Dortmund.However, none have come as close to the almost mythical statusJohn Charlesenjoys atJuventus.4

John Charles became a hero to Juventus fans

Born 40-odd miles down the road from Caerphilly-nativeRamsey, albeit59yearsearlier, Swansea lad Charles was revered both at home and in Italy where he was idolised by the Juve faithful.This week marks 15 years since his death at the age of 72. Without doubt, Charlesis the greatestBrit to play abroad.He is a person who interpreted the spirit of Juventus in the best possible manner and he represented the sport in the best and purest manner, said an emotional RobertoBettega, himself a Juve hero, following the death of the man known as Il Gigante Buono the Gentle Giant in 2004.It was an appropriate name, with the big man going his entire career without picking up a red or yellow card.4

Charles’ form at Leeds earned him a move to Italy and the west stand at Elland Road was renamed in his honour

Charles first came to the wider publics attention in 1948 when he moved to Leeds from Swansea Town, as the club was known then, at the age of 17. A year later the 6ft 2in Welshman, who represented his country 38 times in total, had established himself as a dominant centre-half.However, he reached new levels when he was moved from centre-back to centre-forward in the 1952/53 season and goals flowed for the Yorkshire side.Charles 29 strikes in 42 games in the 1955/56 campaign powered Leeds to promotion to the old Division One and in the top flight, his prowess in front ofgoaldid not wane as he scored 38 times in 40 matches.4

Charles died in 2004 and there was a great outpouring of grief, especially in Wales, Leeds and Turin

He was such a colossus that the west stand of the clubs Elland Road stadium was later named in his honour. After all, it wasCharles65,000 move to Juventus in 1957 that helped pay for the rebuilding of the west stand after it was razed to the ground in a fire.“He was quick, he was strong, he could run with the ball. He was half the team in himself. He was tremendous, Jack Charlton said of his former Leeds team-mate.When Juvesigned him, the Italian side hadnt won the league for six years, but he top-scored with 28 goals to helpthembecome champions again and Italian footballs new goal-getter was crowned Player of the Year.He won three titles in four Serie A seasons and there has never been a shortage of big names lining up to praise the Wales internationalfrom Danny Blanchflower and Billy Wright to Alessandro Del Piero. I received this news with great sorrow, both as a player and as a Juventus fan, Del Piero said upon learning of his death.Every time that he came to visit our team, he showed us great affection and had a contagious cheerfulness,he added.It is even claimed that,had Charles been fit forWales1958 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Brazil, Jimmy Murphys team could have gone all the way, having been key to his nations run to the last eight.By 1962, the goals that had made Charles so popular began to dry up and he was transferred back to Leeds, returning to the club that made him with three Serie Awinnersmedals and two Italian Cups.4

John Charles moved from centre-back to centre-forward at Leeds with devastating success

A further stint in Italy followedwhen he joined Roma that same year. He played 10 times in the Italian capital, scoring four goals, then moved to Cardiff in 1963 before finishing up as player/manager at Hereford United and Merthyr Tydfil in 1974.Ramsey joins Juventus in the middle of a period of domination for the club, but if he makeshalf the impact his late compatriot did, hell be happy.Charles was named Juves greatest foreign signing in 1997 and later Serie As greatest import. Yep, Diego Maradona, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane were allleftin his gentle shadow.

Il Gigante Buono

John CharlesBorn: 27 December, 1931Dies: 21 February, 2004At Juventus105 goals in 181 gamesSerie A titles x3Coppa Italia x2Serie A top scorer 1957/58Third place at 1959 Ballon d’Or

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