JUST as he did last year, Miralem Pjanic will start the new season in Melbourne. This week, however, the Bosnian midfielder will be doing so as a Juventus player for the first time. 
Having made the $46 million switch from one Italian giant, AS Roma, to another last month, Pjanic is itching to make his debut for the five-time defending Serie A champions when they take on Melbourne Victory at the MCG on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old went so close to winning several Scudettos during his five-year stay in the Italian capital.
Roma have finished second, second and third in the past three campaigns. Pjanic is hell-bent on keeping Juventus at the top of the Italian tree so he too can experience Serie A success.
"I'm here to do my bit for the team and achieve big targets," Pjanic said. "A team like Juventus always wants to beat any opponent in any competition. Winning a sixth consecutive Scudetto would represent a wonderful feat and see history rewritten.
"I hope I'm able to contribute to us getting there." When Pjanic was at Roma the team travelled to Melbourne last   July to play for the International Champions Cup against Real Madrid and Manchester City at the MCG.
That experience, in front of 80,000 fans in the game against Real, has him looking forward to his return.
The Juventus squad arrives tonight ahead of games against Victory and English giants Tottenham Hotspur next Tuesday, both at the 'G.
"Last time was the first time I was in Australia and in Melbourne and I really enjoyed it, it was a very good. It was very beautiful," he said."The MCG was incredible. It was a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium and it was beautiful to play inside there."