As the season progresses, Juventus is faltering. After two opening victories in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven and Leipzig, the Bianconeri have yet to secure another win. A home loss to Stuttgart, a draw in Lille, and last night’s hard-fought goalless draw at Villa Park have left fans concerned. The standings, however, aren’t catastrophic. In Serie A, they are only four points behind league leaders Napoli. In the Champions League, Juventus has eight points and remains in contention for a top-eight finish. They host Manchester City, visit Club Brugge, and play Benfica at home. The target of 16 points to secure a top-eight spot is still achievable. But…Juve fans celebrated getting rid of Rabiot for free and signing Douglas Luiz for 70 million pic.twitter.com/XTtAEnFhol— AJ (@FinoAllaFine282) November 17, 2024 The problem lies in their gameplay. It’s unconvincing. Players brought in to make a difference and propel Juventus forward have instead become liabilities. The club spent over 200 million euros on new signings this summer, but few have justified their price tags. The best impressions have been left by unexpected players: Pierre Kalulu and Francisco Conceição, though even they haven’t been outstanding. The biggest disappointments have been the three marquee signings. Douglas Luiz cost over 50 million, Teun Koopmeiners nearly 60 million, and Nico González over 35 million. Together, they’ve contributed just one goal and two assists. All three have struggled with injuries: the Dutchman missed five matches, the Argentine 10, and the Brazilian has started only twice! Of all the disappointments, Luiz has been the most glaring. Expected to balance the lines, dictate the tempo, and command the midfield in Mota’s system, he’s delivered almost nothing. It’s no surprise, then, that Gazzetta dello Sport reported this morning that Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli used the Villa trip to visit Manchester and offer players to local clubs.Juve up against their potential future forward?According to Gazzetta, Giuntoli met with executives from both Manchester United and Manchester City on Tuesday, offering Douglas Luiz and young midfielder Nicolò Fagioli. While Fagioli’s price is clear—Juventus would accept around 25 million—the potential return for Luiz remains uncertain. It’s possible Giuntoli is offering Luiz as part of a swap deal for Joshua Zirkzee, who has also struggled at United after his move from Bologna. The Dutchman is a top target for Thiago Motta in January, but much depends on the assessment of new coach Rúben Amorim. This weekend, Juventus visits Lecce, followed by four consecutive home matches (Bologna, Manchester City, Venezia, and Cagliari), offering a chance to rebuild confidence and perhaps rejuvenate their underperforming stars. The Bianconeri will close the year with an away trip to Monza and a home match against Fiorentina. By then, much will be clearer, including whether a course correction is necessary.##NAJAVA_MECA_8528328##
