The end of my Italian chapter means trading Turin for fresh adventures


Things went well at Juventus on the pitch but the last six months in particular have been difficult off of it

This weekend I will play my last game for Juventus, bringing to an end a year and a half of great success and lots of learning. When I arrived in the summer of 2018 I was attracted by a big club still in its infancy as a womens team, and a big project on and off the pitch that I could be a part of. On the pitch, we achieved a lot of rapid success: a league title, the domestic cup and the Supercoppa. Off the pitch, I think it is fair to say things have been a little more uneven.

Looking back at my achievements with this team, which included finishing last season as top scorer, I feel proud. When I arrived I did not know whether I could adapt to the style of play, or the culture, language and city of Turin. I knew I would play, but I did not know where, or how well. In a team built around a core of nine Italy internationals, I managed to seamlessly fit in. I do not think that is an easy thing to do for an international striker. This season I have moved position, playing wide on the right with different responsibilities. It has been difficult to maintain my goalscoring form and I have not always been the best version of myself, but it has been yet another learning experience.

Related: Sam Kerr coup has left rival leagues scrambling to keep up with WSL | Suzanne Wrack

Related: Concerns over player welfare raised by W-League's partnership with NWSL | Samantha Lewis

Continue reading...