Juventus is bracing for another potential overhaul following a disappointing season, with the future of football director Damien Comolli under scrutiny. Since winning Serie A in 2020 under Maurizio Sarri, the club has experienced a period of instability, marked by frequent changes in leadership and a significant investment of €875 million in player acquisitions.
Despite the substantial spending, Juventus has only secured two Coppa Italia titles and one Supercoppa during this period. The net investment in players since the 2020-21 season stands at €400 million, encompassing both successful signings like Kenan Yildiz and costly failures such as Arthur and Lois Openda. The club purchased Arthur for €80 million in 2020, in a swap deal with Barcelona involving Miralem Pjanic, and the Brazilian currently remains on loan at Gremio. Openda arrived for a fee of €46 million but has not met expectations.
Dusan Vlahovic, signed from Fiorentina in January 2022 for approximately €70 million (plus €85 million in bonuses), has scored 66 goals but is set to become a free agent in the coming weeks, with contract renewal talks proving difficult across multiple Juventus administrations. Douglas Luiz, a €38 million acquisition in 2024, has also struggled to establish himself, spending time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. The acquisition of Koopmeiners alongside Luiz last summer also proved costly, with the latter’s future at the club uncertain.
Financially, the club’s ownership, Exor, has injected nearly €1 billion into the club through four recapitalizations since 2019. This financial support has coincided with a revolving door of directors, including Fabio Paratici, Maurizio Arrivabene, Federico Cherubini, Pavel Nedved, Giovanni Manna, Francesco Calvo, Maurizio Scanavino, and Cristiano Giuntoli, who has recently been replaced by Comolli. John Elkann, the club’s owner, appointed Comolli but has publicly focused on manager Luciano Spalletti and Yildiz when discussing the future.
Failure to qualify for the Champions League would result in a significant financial loss – estimated at €70-80 million – and confirm a failure to meet the season’s minimum objectives. Elkann is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting with key advisors on Tuesday to determine Comolli’s fate, deciding whether to hold him accountable for the negative season or grant him a second chance. Giorgio Chiellini is expected to play an increasingly important role within the club, regardless of the outcome.
