Giovanni Carnevali has begun his tenure as Juventus’ new CEO and general manager alongside coach Luciano Spalletti, with the pair outlining initial transfer targets during a recent meeting in Forte dei Marmi. Spalletti is reportedly prioritizing the acquisition of a goalkeeper and a striker in the opening days of July, though the club’s financial situation will dictate the extent of their spending.
Carnevali arrived expecting to find advanced negotiations for players like Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and either Kolo Muani or Alexander Sorloth, but discovered no substantial progress had been made. This has prompted a shift towards “creative ideas” in the transfer market, acknowledging that limited funds necessitate careful prioritization between strengthening the goalkeeping and attacking positions. The club is also under pressure to generate between €12-13 million in player sales by Tuesday to maintain a healthy balance sheet.
According to reports, Juventus are looking to raise funds through the potential sales of players such as Fabio Miretti and Filip Adzic. The club is not anticipating any major issues in achieving this target, but acknowledges the need for flexibility. The upcoming World Cup is also being factored into their planning, with Carnevali and Spalletti discussing the risks associated with signing players involved in the tournament.
They cited the example of Maxime Lopez, whose potential transfer could be complicated by a possible injury sustained during the competition. The pair also discussed the possibility of adding a regista to the squad, not as a replacement for Manuel Locatelli, but to provide competition and alleviate some of his workload. A preference for a domestically-based player has been indicated. The appointment of Spalletti marks a clear departure from the data-driven approach favored by his predecessor, Damien Comolli, signaling a return to more traditional scouting and managerial input.
