Gian Piero Gasperini was a potential candidate to take over the Turin titans this summer. Yet the former Juve player opted to leave Atalanta after nine years and join AS Roma.
Juventus are keeping their options open about who to appoint as their next head coach, having learned a harsh and expensive lesson with the failure of the planned three-year Project Motta.
Sporting director Cristiano Guintoli hand selected Thiago Motta to take over at Juve, despite Max Allegri still being in charge. A verbal agreement was in place, with Allegri fired and Motta switching from Bologna.
Motta got the boot from the Bianconeri in late March, while Giuntoli has just departed his role.
Brazil no-go
Yet Juve remain financially tied with Motta, who was widely reported in Brazil to have turned down some plum coaching jobs. Motta was in the mix to take over at AC Milan, but in a twist of fate missed out on landing the job as Allegri was appointed.
Atalanta and maybe Como appear to be Motta’s best chances to secure a Serie A gig. Motta is still being paid by Juventus, which would come to an abrupt end if he accepts a new managerial role before June 2027.
The Atalanta vacancy is believed to be a three-man race between Ivan Juric, Motta and Raffaele Palladino. All three were Gasperini proteges, having played for him at Genoa. Juric was assistant manager to Gasperini at both Inter and Palermo.
Even the fact that the Bianconeri offered Champions League soccer was not enough to convince Gasperini to wait in the wings for an offer from Juventus.
Juric punt
Yet Juric would be a massive gamble for Atalanta following his torrid time last season. He was sacked by AS Roma after a dozen games, and won just two of his 16 matches as Southampton boss before being shown the exit door.
Palladino resigned from Fiorentina last week, despite securing sixth place in Serie A to earn a berth in the Conference League qualifiers.
Motta is ready to jump on the Serie A managerial merry-go-round, and must have fancied his chances at Juve’s Turin rivals Torino. However, ex-Lazio coach Marco Baroni is anticipated to land that job.
Como chance
Aside from Atalanta, Motta could be a potential candidate at Como, if Cesc Fabregas is tempted to leave for a bigger club such as Inter Milan.
Simone Inzaghi was open to further discussions about taking over at Juventus this summer. Following Giuntoli’s exit, there were no talks between the then Inter boss and the Bianconeri. Inzaghi left Inter and made a move to cash-rich Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.
Inzaghi will be tackling the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup finals as his first task, while the Juventus hierarchy will be focusing on the team displays and results under interim head coach Igor Tudor.
Do or die
Tudor has a shot at being appointed permanent Juve manager, but the Club World Cup showing appears to be a make-or-break scenario.
The Croatian’s patience may be wearing thin, despite recent talks with the Juventus owner, and he may well be contemplating applying for Serie A vacancies.
Fiorentina offers European soccer, but a Juve head coach target Stefano Pioli could return to the club where he was a successful player and manager.
Ex-AC Milan boss Pioli, currently in charge of Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, seems a perfect fit although the attacking and high pressing tactics favored by Motta and Tudor could earn them the role.