In a single evening, Juventus plummeted from the second to the seventh position in Serie A as a consequence of being docked 10 points due to financial infringements. John Elkann, the owner of the company that possesses the Bianconeri, is currently unable to look beyond the end of the season. “Undoubtedly, this is a challenging moment on and off the field, but Juventus has always confronted difficulties and emerged stronger. I have conversed with coach Allegri, and he senses the weight of our history. Our aim is to earn a spot in Europe through sporting accomplishments in the remaining two rounds of Serie A,” expressed Elkann. Nevertheless, despite his remarks, the future remains shrouded in uncertainty. The post of Max Allegri is also under scrutiny, despite having a secure contract worth €9 million per season until 2025. The coach himself has already announced his lack of intention to resign, although some of the fans have voiced their desire for it. The disheartening 1-4 defeat against Empoli is difficult to digest and casts a significant shadow over Max, but the current priority is securing a place in Europe at all costs, with further decisions to be made subsequently.
It is evident that Juventus‘ squad over the past year and a half has turned into a resounding failure. Almost all of the new acquisitions failed to meet expectations, thus necessitating the appointment of a new influential figure as a sporting director to spearhead the club’s revival. The chosen individual for this role is Cristiano Giuntoli. Although he is currently tied to Napoli by an active contract, Juventus remains optimistic about their chances of luring him away. In the event of any complications with Giuntoli, alternative options are readily available. One such alternative is the promotion of Giovanni Manna, presently responsible for overseeing Juventus‘ reserve team. Giovanni Rossi from Sassuolo is also within sight, having previously worked with the Bianconeri and maintaining a close bond with Max Allegri.
The appointment of a sporting director will assist in avoiding a repetition of the mistakes made during recent transfer windows, under the guidance of Federico Cherubini, overseen by the head coach. The majority of the decisions executed failed to yield fruitful outcomes, as indicated by the facts. From January to August 2022, Juventus procured the services of nine players, with over half of them falling short of meeting expectations. Denis Zakaria‘s tenure lasted a mere six months as he was loaned out to Chelsea due to his incompatibility with Allegri‘s plans. Dusan Vlahovic, for whom €80 million was expended, was anticipated to become the team’s new superstar but ultimately failed to materialize.
The sole positive revelation was the defender Gatti, who was acquired as early as January 2022 but concluded the previous campaign with Frosinone. Brazilians Bremmer and Filip Kostic deserve commendation for their performances, but the same cannot be said for Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria, and Paredes. Pogba never took to the field due to persistent health issues, resulting in Juventus being held hostage by his €10 million annual wage. Di Maria fell short of becoming a decisive player, likely prompting the club to deem him an excessively costly luxury. Should he remain, an additional €6 million would be expended. The situation surrounding Arkadiusz Milik, the Polish player, remains in the balance as he exhibited solid performances but recently endured a goal drought. However, it is certain that Paredes will depart as his contributions proved wholly disappointing, thereby precluding the activation of the option for a permanent transfer.
