Canada striker Jonathan David has emerged as a standout performer at the 2026 World Cup, his hat-trick in a 6-0 win against Qatar propelling him to the top of the tournament’s scoring charts alongside Lionel Messi. The performance marks a significant turnaround for the 26-year-old, who initially faced criticism following a less impactful showing in Canada’s opening match against Switzerland.
David joined Juventus last summer on a free transfer from Lille, arriving with a strong reputation after scoring 25 goals in all competitions for the Ligue 1 club the previous season, including nine in the Champions League. However, his adaptation to Italian football proved challenging, with reports of isolation within the Juventus dressing room surfacing early on. Head coach Luciano Spalletti even jokingly referenced an early cultural faux pas involving parmesan and seafood pasta.
Despite his recent World Cup success, Juventus are planning to sell David, according to Corriere dello Sport. The Italian publication noted David displayed “speed of execution, positional awareness, courage and precision” against Qatar – qualities seemingly absent during his time in Turin. The club is reportedly seeking a fee of around €30 million for the forward.
The issue, according to Italian sources, stems from a perceived lack of physicality and aggression in front of goal. A January fixture against Lecce, where Juventus delivered 36 crosses but David failed to convert any, is cited as a turning point. Spalletti’s tactical setup, featuring Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Weston McKennie, requires a more robust central striker, a role Dusan Vlahovic is poised to fill with contract negotiations progressing rapidly.
Spalletti has publicly stated the team needs a striker who can “battle physically with the centre-back,” something he doesn’t believe David currently offers. Data analytics firm FootballTransfers previously flagged a poor stylistic fit between David and Juventus, assigning the transfer just two stars for compatibility. David thrived in a front two with Cyle Larin for Canada, but Juventus’s system largely relies on a single centre-forward. This mismatch ultimately contributed to his struggles in Italy, despite his clear international quality.
