Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has stated the club requires time and a significant squad overhaul to return to the Champions League places. Speaking ahead of the Kings World Cup Clubs tournament in Milan, where he serves as Head of Competition for the Kings League, Marchisio assessed the current state of his former club.
Marchisio believes Juventus’ recent friendly against Basel highlighted the need for patience, noting the team was missing several players and the match was primarily for fitness. He emphasized that the transfer window is yet to truly begin for the Bianconeri, with decisions still to be made regarding player departures and arrivals. Despite this, he expressed confidence in the new leadership at the club, anticipating they will make positive strides in the transfer market.
He went on to suggest a complete rebuild of the team is necessary, pointing to last season’s struggles and near miss of a Champions League qualification. While acknowledging the increased competitiveness of Serie A, Marchisio believes Juventus remains capable of challenging, particularly with improvements to the squad. He highlighted the importance of strengthening the midfield, suggesting a need for greater reliability in that area, while acknowledging the quality of Douglas Luiz.
Turning to the international stage, Marchisio lamented Italy’s absence from recent World Cups and advocated for a long-term project under a new national team manager. He surprisingly suggested Pep Guardiola as an ideal candidate, believing his appointment could initiate a transformative period for Italian football, extending beyond the senior national team to encompass the entire footballing structure. Marchisio believes a four-year project is essential to rebuild the national team’s fortunes and ensure future World Cup participation.
