Maurizio Sarri believes his old Napoli director of sport Cristiano Giuntoli is ‘the right man at the right time’ to rebuild Juventus. ‘Unfortunately for Lazio, I think he’ll sort them out.’
The coach has worked with Giuntoli before at Napoli and then separately won the Scudetto at Juve, so he knows both sides of the situation very well.
Giuntoli has not officially started work at Juventus, but terminated his contract with Napoli a year early to begin this new adventure in Turin.
“I think he is the right man at the right time for this historic period, as Juventus need to rebuild,” Sarri told Sportitalia.
“Giuntoli is a phenomenon in these situations and I think this is the right moment. Unfortunately for us at Lazio, I think he’ll sort them out.
“I don’t know how quickly he will get those issues resolved, but knowing him, I do believe he will succeed in their reconstruction.”
Sarri was asked to describe the greatest strength that Giuntoli has in the role of director of sport and the response was something in evidence over the last year at Napoli.
“I would say courage. Giuntoli never worries if it comes to putting an important player on the market and going to get someone relatively unknown. That has always been his strength.”
Lazio made the most of the Bianconeri’s problems this season, going above expectations to secure second place and Champions League qualification.
As for Sarri, his one season at Juventus was considered something of a flop at the time, but looking back now that verdict has changed.
“Back then, Juve were coming off eight consecutive Serie A titles and reached the Champions League Final a couple of times, so they assumed the Scudetto was to be taken for granted. I was then reproached in the media for having a draw in Madrid, which by the current rules would’ve seen us go to extra time rather than out on away goals.
“That Real Madrid team was considered weak, but the next round it knocked out Manchester City. At that time, people assumed Juve had to be at the top in Europe, despite only having the 10th or 11th highest wage bill.”