Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has issued a clear public demand for a creative midfielder and hinted at defensive reinforcements following a costly 1-1 draw with already-relegated Hellas Verona. The result, secured only by a Dusan Vlahovic free-kick after 179 minutes without a goal from the Serbian, leaves Juventus' hopes of a top-four Serie A finish in serious jeopardy with just three games remaining. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Spalletti pinpointed a specific lack of quality in the final third as the team's fundamental issue.
"We lack a bit of true quality in tight spaces, in the swamp of the attacking third," Spalletti said. "We are missing what a good attacking midfielder is good at, playing in tight spaces, because there in front of the opponent's penalty area it becomes a swampy zone and if things don't work out you force some plays, increasing the nerves and the difficulties." His comments are widely interpreted as a direct message to the club's sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, ahead of the summer transfer window.
Spalletti also offered an assessment of his current defensive options that suggested a desire for change. "There are characteristics that create the framework for the players: we have Bremer and Lloyd Kelly who are two great defenders of individual quality, who have all the best in duels, in strength and in defending, but perhaps in building from the back they concede something," he explained. This indicates a potential search for a defender more proficient in ball distribution to complement the existing duo.
Despite the disappointing result, which followed a defensive error from Bremer that led to Verona's goal, Spalletti insisted his team deserved to win the match. He expressed frustration with his side's mentality in difficult moments, stating they become "a bit smaller" and act like "boys" on the pitch when under pressure. The manager's focus, however, remained firmly on the structural issues within the squad.
The striker position remains another concern. While Vlahovic ended his lengthy drought, Spalletti reiterated that the Serbian is a link-up player and not a traditional target man, leaving the role of a pure penalty-box finisher seemingly unfilled. Kenan Yildiz's form was also noted as being below par. With the futures of forwards like Moise Kean and Arkadiusz Milik uncertain, attacking reinforcements are also expected.
Juventus now face a tense final run-in, sitting in a precarious fifth place, level on points with Como and one point behind fourth-placed Roma. The dropped points against Verona have intensified the pressure, making Champions League qualification, and the vital revenue it brings, far from assured. Spalletti's pointed remarks signal that a significant squad overhaul is anticipated this summer, regardless of where the club finishes, with a creative trequartista appearing to be the primary target.
