Juve have to ponder the words following Igor Tudor’s outburst after securing Champions League soccer on Sunday, with the Juve boss seemingly playing hard ball.
Tudor’s agent has tried to smooth things over, yet Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has another headache ahead of the revamped 32-team tournament that kicks off on 14 July.
Should Tudor choose to walk away, then it would appear that former Italy manager Roberto Martini could be called upon. Although he was snubbed by the Bianconeri when they went for the cheaper option of appointing Tudor on a short-term basis.
Giuntoli spoke to Sky Sport Italia ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash at Venezia, which Juve won 3-2 to send the hosts tumbling to Serie B next term. The triumph ensured Champions League soccer.
The 53-year-old revealed the situation in respect of winger Francisco Conceicao, striker Kolo Muani and defender Renato Veiga for the prestigious Club World Cup, because their deals with Juventus all expire on 30 June.
The tournament concludes in mid-July. If Juventus can navigate their way out of the four-team round-robin group phase and into the knockout stages, they will need to extend the contracts of on-loan players in order to play them.
Negotiations for duo
Giuntoli confirmed that there’s an agreement in place with FC Porto to keep Conceicao, but admitted there are on-going discussions with Paris Saint-Germain for Muani and Chelsea for Renato Veiga.
He said: “For Conceicao, we are already okay. We are also talking to the clubs of Kolo and Renato.”
Giuntoli reaffirmed that veterans Filip Kostic and Daniele Rugani will return from their one-season loan spells.
Turkish Super Lig outfit Fenerbahce opted against buying Serbia left midfielder Kostic, while Italian defender Rugani struggled for minutes with Ajax and only played in 15 Dutch Eredivisie top-flight games.
Kostic, who is attracting attention from Parma, could prove useful for the Bianconeri next term as the club are actively seeking another left winger.
Rugani return
Despite having made 17 Serie A appearances during the 2023/24 campaign when Max Allegri was Juventus manager, Rugani was surprisingly sent out on a season-long loan last August with no option to buy.
Giuntoli added: “We are bringing Kostic and Rugani back, we have many injured players.”
Yet there was no mention of center-back Tiago Djalo or defender Facundo Gonzalez, both back from their loans at FC Porto and Dutch giants Feyenoord respectively. It remains to be seen whether they are surplus to requirements at Juve.
Giuntoli concluded: “We want to make a good impression at the [Club] World Cup. The boys will have a bit of rest and then we will set off on this new adventure.”