Juventus are finding it difficult to secure the transfer of Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, a stark contrast to the club’s ability to sign Cristiano Ronaldo eight years ago. The Bianconeri celebrated the anniversary of Ronaldo’s arrival on July 10, 2018, but have yet to add Kolo Muani to their squad before tomorrow’s training camp begins, according to reports from Turin.
The shift in Juventus’s market power has been significant in less than a decade. While the signing of Ronaldo was a statement of intent, the club now faces challenges in attracting players of similar caliber. This summer’s transfer activity has been slow, with only Ekhator, formerly of Genoa, joining as a new face for Spalletti’s team. The club’s recent struggles on the pitch, failing to win Serie A since 2020 with Sarri and last lifting a trophy in 2024 with Allegri, have contributed to this diminished standing.
Juventus invested heavily during Ronaldo’s time, but the Portuguese star’s 101 goals in three years were not enough to deliver Champions League success. The pandemic further complicated the club’s ambitious plans, financially impacting the vision of Agnelli, Nedved, and Paratici. The current pursuit of Kolo Muani, the third attempt in twelve months following previous efforts by former CEO Damien Comolli who ultimately signed Openda for 44 million, represents a new attempt to rebuild.
Since Ronaldo’s arrival in 2018, 2924 days have passed, witnessing a considerable turnover of directors, coaches, and players at Juventus. Four CEOs – Arrivabene, Scanavino, Comolli, and now Carnevali – have come and gone, alongside numerous managerial changes. Fabio Paratici, who arrived with Marotta in 2010, departed in 2021, followed by Andrea Agnelli, Pavel Nedved, and Federico Cherubini. More recently, Francesco Calvo, Giovanni Manna, and Cristiano Giuntoli have all moved on, with Comolli and François Modesto also leaving after a disappointing sixth-place finish and Champions League exclusion.
The coaching situation has been equally turbulent, with Sarri, Pirlo, Allegri (for a second spell), Thiago Motta, Igor Tudor, and Luciano Spalletti all taking the helm. Several high-profile signings have failed to live up to expectations, such as Arthur, who cost 80 million in a swap deal with Pjanic and is once again facing an uncertain future. Koopmeiners, Milik, David, and Openda are also facing questions about their futures. Even the goalkeeper position, historically a strength for Juventus, is in flux, with the decision to replace Szczesny with Di Gregorio proving problematic. Spalletti is now looking at Aston Villa’s ‘Dibu’ Martinez as a potential solution.
