Juventus have swiftly shifted their transfer strategy under newly appointed CEO and General Manager Giovanni Carnevali, prioritizing deals with Serie A clubs after a period of focusing on international transfers. The acquisition of Jeff Ekhator from Genoa marks the first purchase from another Italian side in nearly two years, breaking a trend established during the previous administration led by Fabio Comolli.
Comolli’s tenure was reportedly hampered by strained relationships with other Italian clubs, leading to a reliance on transfers involving foreign teams. During his two transfer windows, Comolli primarily conducted business with clubs in Portugal, France, England, Germany, and Spain, with limited interaction with Serie A sides. The exceptions were loan deals involving Emil Holm and Joao Mario, and Rugani’s loan to Fiorentina.
Carnevali, however, is leveraging his extensive network built over a decade at Sassuolo to rebuild those relationships. This approach has already yielded positive results, allowing Juventus to achieve their financial targets – securing €12 million in capital gains by the June 30 deadline through the sales of Daffara to Parma and Puczka to Genoa – while simultaneously strengthening the squad with promising talent like Ekhator. The deal with Genoa also helped the Ligurian club meet their own financial objectives.
This renewed focus on domestic transfers represents a return to a historically successful strategy for Juventus, who have long benefited from a strong network of relationships within Serie A. The club’s ability to consistently secure top players from the Italian league was built on repeated dealings and established trust with other clubs. With three deals completed and Muharemovic nearing a move to Turin, Carnevali appears to be successfully repositioning Juventus as a central player in the Italian transfer market. This shift in approach could allow Juventus to more efficiently identify and acquire talent within the domestic league, potentially strengthening their competitive position.
