Juventus is undergoing a period of significant scrutiny following a series of unsuccessful player acquisitions since winning the Serie A title in 2020. According to a report published May 19th, the club has spent approximately €875 million on players since that season, with a net investment of €400 million when factoring in player sales.
The period has been marked by frequent changes in club leadership, with shareholders injecting nearly €1 billion into the club through four recapitalizations since 2019. The report details several high-profile transfers that have failed to deliver the expected returns, including the €80 million signing of Arthur in 2020 – currently on loan at Gremio – and the more recent €46 million purchase of Openda, who has not met expectations.
Other notable acquisitions include Dusan Vlahovic, who arrived from Fiorentina in January 2022 for around €70 million (plus €85 million in bonuses), and has scored 66 goals but is now set to leave on a free transfer. Douglas Luiz, signed in 2024 for €38 million plus Iling and Barrenechea, has also been loaned out to Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. Koopmeiners, another significant investment, may also depart despite being at the club.
On the pitch, the results have not matched the financial outlay. Juventus has won two Coppa Italia titles and one Supercoppa since 2020, but has largely underperformed in Serie A, finishing third once, fourth three times, seventh once due to a points deduction, and currently sits sixth with one match remaining, outside of Champions League qualification. This performance echoes a period before the club’s dominant nine-year Scudetto run, when they finished seventh twice in 2010 and 2011.
John Elkann, the club’s owner, recently appointed Damien Comolli as the club’s new sporting director. However, Elkann has publicly focused on manager Luciano Spalletti and young player Kenan Yildiz when discussing the future of the club. A crucial meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday between Elkann and club officials to assess the season and determine Comolli’s future. The outcome will likely hinge on whether the club misses out on Champions League qualification, which would result in a significant financial loss and further solidify the perception of a failed season.
Giorgio Chiellini is expected to play an increasingly influential role within the club, regardless of the outcome of the internal review.
