Juventus have terminated the contract of director Giovanni Comolli, according to reports in Italy. The dismissal comes after a breakdown in relations with manager Luciano Spalletti, stemming from a failed attempt to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. The club will pay Comolli €4.8 million, including bonuses and severance.
Comolli’s departure was swift following the appointment of Giovanni Carnevali as the new Juventus CEO just two days prior. Carnevali immediately exercised the option to permanently sign Jeremie Boga from Nice, signalling a clear shift in direction for the Turin club. Juventus are also preparing to offload players such as Openda, David, and Zhegrova, though the club acknowledges these sales will be challenging.
Spalletti had reportedly leveraged his existing relationship with Alisson, cultivated during their time together at Roma, to initiate talks with the Brazilian international. Alisson was said to be receptive to the idea of reuniting with Spalletti at Juventus. However, Comolli was unable to finalize the transfer, which caused significant frustration for the manager. Sources indicate the disagreement between the two was substantial, ultimately leading to Elkann’s decision to side with Spalletti and remove Comolli from his position.
Comolli had held a multifaceted role at Juventus, encompassing responsibilities as an administrator, CEO, and director general. The financial settlement includes compensation for his initial signing bonus, salary, severance package, and a waiver of the bonus’s return. This marks a significant change in the Juventus boardroom as the club aims to rebuild under Spalletti’s leadership and Carnevali’s direction. The failed pursuit of Alisson highlights the importance Spalletti places on bringing in players he knows and trusts, and the club will now focus on identifying alternative goalkeeping targets.
Juventus finished third in Serie A last season, qualifying for the Champions League but falling short of their ambitions to challenge for the Scudetto. The club is hoping to close the gap on league winners Inter Milan with a refreshed squad and a unified leadership structure.
