Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli says the Bianconeri matched Thiago Motta’s ideas, but their plan B was a ‘foreign coach’, while Riccardo Calafiori joining Arsenal is a ‘regret’ for the whole Italian football.
Giuntoli released an interview with Il Corriere della Sera, talking about the Bianconeri’s summer transfer window and their results in the season’s first games.
“All we had to do was keep an eye on the books and have a five-year perspective,” he said.
“For example, in the past, you could sign a player who earned €13m gross. Now, we have one for whom we paid €10m but earns five times less, so between salary and amortisation, you save over €30m. There’s no method. We had to lower the wage bill and the average age, and we did so.”
Juventus have collected nine points in the opening five games of the season and won 3-1 on their Champions League debut against PSV last week.
“Juventus must win. It’s not the thing, but it’s the most important thing,” insisted Giuntoli.
“We must keep a balance between competitiveness and sustainability to bring the club to where it deserves. The result is essential, as is the way you achieve it. We must start from performances, this is the difference.”
A former Napoli director, Giuntoli joined Juventus in 2023 after helping the Partenopei win their first Serie A title in 33 years. Does he feel more pressure in Turin?
Giuntoli on how Juventus convinced Motta, Calafiori ‘regret’ and Chiesa ‘clarity’
“There is more here, but more than pressure, I’d say, a sense of responsibility,” he argued.
“This is what I felt when I arrived. The awareness of being at a club that has made history, so you have this responsibility. It’s an important responsibility. I don’t like to show emotions. The pressure is something I feel inside, but outside clarity prevails. As a director, I must use my head when I make decisions. This is a merit that I recognise to myself. Be serene in any situation.”
What’s the most difficult signing of his career?
“Perhaps, Victor [Osimhen]. It took me four months to bring him to Napoli,” he replied.
“Maybe he should have been sold earlier, but Aurelio is a wise and intelligent businessman. I owe him so much, and I love him.”
Juventus sacked Massimiliano Allegri at the end of last season, bringing Thiago Motta in.
“Evidently, he did so well at Bologna that we were not the only team interested,” Giuntoli admitted.
“We were aware of this, so we tried to play our cards right, matching his ideas and football project.
“He has had a significant impact at Juventus. He is nice to everyone and has great empathy for the team. He has a great personality, and he lives for this work.”
Did Juventus have a plan B if Motta had picked a different club?
“I won’t say the name, but he’s a foreign coach still working in Europe,” Giuntoli revealed.
Does he regret not signing Riccardo Calafiori?
“He’s a regret for the whole Italian football, not only Juventus. We must think about the fact that we didn’t have the strength to keep a player of his level in Italy. All big teams signed a defender, but not him.”
Dusan Vlahovic has scored just two goals in six games so far and his contract expires in June 2026. Will Juventus find it difficult to extend with the Serbia international?
“No, a player like him can never be a problem,” insisted Giuntoli.
“The renewal is an objective, and we’ll achieve it. A player with a high worth and a high salary is of great value to us.”
Who’s the favourite to win the title?
“It’s still early, but Inter and Napoli are favourites. History says so. The most experienced team always wins. Inter are as such and Napoli became so following their change of strategy.”
How about Juventus?
“We have changed a lot, and it’s always a risk. We have entirely changed the way we think about football. We started from scratch. We are discovering ourselves, and we are curious to see what we can achieve.”
Federico Chiesa joined Liverpool last summer, Weston McKennie signed a contract extension, and Teun Koopmeiners moved to Turin for €60m from Atalanta.
Juventus dealt with Chiesa using “clarity and simplicity,” said Giuntoli.
“We have always been very clear with him and his entourage. We all tried to find the best solution for the player. He’s very strong, so we wish him the best.
“McKennie had a problem with his contract extension, but he’s never been out of the project.
“The Koopmeiners negotiation was also pretty difficult. He has a special technique. He always holds his head high. He always knows where the ball is and who to pass it to.”
Lastly, Giuntoli was asked about ex-Juventus coach Allegri, but he refused to reply: “I am sorry, I won’t talk about this.”