Juventus are poised to appoint Matteo Tognozzi as a key figure in their restructuring of the sporting department, according to reports in Italy. The move comes following the appointment of Giovanni Carnevali as the club’s new Chief Executive, with a clear mandate to rebuild the organisation after a period of instability.
Juventus have been seeking to clarify roles and responsibilities within the club, with previous attempts to delineate areas of control proving unsuccessful. Figures like Giorgio Chiellini and François Modesto found their positions ill-defined, and Marco Ottolini, brought in to oversee scouting, struggled to implement changes due to the existing disorganisation. Modesto is expected to depart, while Ottolini will remain in his role focusing on talent identification.
Tognozzi, currently with Portuguese side Rio Ave, previously spent seven years at Juventus as a scouting director before transitioning to a sporting director role. His recent experience includes spells at Granada and Nottingham Forest, both under the ownership of Evangelos Marinakis. While other candidates such as Ricky Massara, Mehdi Benatia, and Giovanni Rossi have been considered, Tognozzi is currently the frontrunner.
Initial contact between Juventus and Tognozzi occurred towards the end of the recent Serie A season, but a veto from former sporting director Fabio Comolli stalled the process. Tognozzi currently has a two-year contract with Rio Ave and maintains a strong relationship with the club’s ownership. However, the prospect of returning to Turin under Carnevali is reportedly highly appealing. He would be tasked with supporting manager Luciano Spalletti in the transfer market.
Several influential figures at Juventus, including Chiellini, are said to be supportive of Tognozzi’s appointment. The primary hurdle now is negotiating his release from Rio Ave, a process that will require careful diplomacy. Juventus are keen to establish a clear timeline for his arrival. Tognozzi would work closely with Carnevali, Spalletti, and Ottolini, having previously advocated for Ottolini’s appointment in 2018. A key part of his remit would be to continue the ongoing reconstruction of the club’s scouting network, a process that began but was not completed under the previous regime.
This appointment signals a clear intent from Juventus to rebuild its sporting structure and return to a position of strength in Italian and European football.
