Giuntoli talks Juventus' 'year of reconstruction,' winter transfer plans
Yesterday at 03:45 PM
Juventus sporting chief had some things to say about the 2024-25 season.
As we stand less than a month away from the midway point of the 2024-25 season and the start of the January transfer window, Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli is certainly going to be under the microscope to see what kind of deals he can swing to help things out a bit.
With two defenders out with season-ending ACL injuries and a depth crisis that the club hasn't seen in a couple of years at least, Giuntoli's likely to be a busy man trying to improve a roster that saw a massive amount of changes the last time a transfer window was open.
So, of course, the upcoming January transfer window was one of the first things he was asked about during Monday night's Gran Gala del Calcio in Milan.
"For us, it's a particular year, we've had a lot of absences, we're holding on to the qualities of a group of serious and good guys and a coach who's doing very well, we're fighting to try to stay connected.
"The declared objective is to stay in the top four, we have started a new course with many new players, a new coach and a different way of thinking about football. Paradoxically we are also happy with how it is going, it is clear that the absences have penalized us significantly."
(Source: Alfredo Pedulla)
With Bremer and Juan Cabal out injured after both South Americans tore their ACL within the span of six weeks, Giuntoli adding depth in defense has become a top priority for Juventus come January. There have been a handful of names linked to Juventus — maybe most notably former Inter center back Milan Skriniar, who is very much out of the project at Paris Saint-Germain — with Giuntoli still playing things rather coy in terms of who he is targeting.
"Skriniar? He is an interesting player like many others. The January market is strange, until the end he doesn't show his cards. We will have to be careful and vigilant and strike at the right time."
Adding another striker in January has become even more of a talking point of late considering Dusan Vlahovic had started every game Juventus had played prior to getting injured during the November international break. Arek Milik, who is Juve's only other natural No. 9 on the roster, has yet to make his season debut after suffering a knee in the build-up to his participation in Euro 2024 with Poland.
"At the moment we are waiting for Milik's evolution and we are confident that he can do very well, he is suited to the coach's game. Then if another hitch were to happen then we would be vigilant on the market."
While much of the talk has been about Juventus adding a defender or two in January, there have also been rumors about Danilo potentially leaving during the upcoming transfer window. The Juve captain has been linked with a move to Antonio Conte's Napoli, but Giuntoli was quick to shoot down those rumors.
"At the moment he is our captain and we are holding on to him, at the back we are reduced to the bare minimum. We have not spoken about anything with Danilo or with Napoli, let's see, the objective is not to sell anyone and to take a player in defense."
Juventus are currently sixth in the Serie A table, trailing league-leading Napoli by six points ahead of Saturday's game against Bologna, the first meeting between Thiago Motta and his former side since he moved to Turin over the summer.
