There may have been a U-turn at the Turin titans about the future of Tudor, who took over as the interim head coach in late-March, following today’s meeting with John Elkann.
Yet these discussions were part of his contract. It appears that he will have to let his results at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup convince the club to appoint him on a permanent basis.
After Thiago Motta was given the boot, Tudor returned to the club for a third stint. His objective was to steer the team to next season’s Champions League, which he managed courtesy of a last day victory at Venezia.
Tudor’s achievement of a top four finish automatically triggered talks with the club hierarchy, to discuss the possibility of tackling next season as permanent manager.
Tudor’s nose was put out of joint by the club trying to target former Juve boss Antonio Conte, having sealed the Scudetto at Napoli, to take over the reins for the 2025/26 Serie A season.
Managerial candidates
Conte decided to stick with Napoli. There was intense speculation that Juventus were looking at other managerial candidates that included Fulham’s Marco Silva, Lille OSC boss Bruno “Pep” Genesio and Olympique Marseille’s Roberto De Zerbi.
There are reports swirling around the Italian sports media that Tudor has been reassured about his position by Elkann, while other outlets boldly claim that he’s already been appointed for next term.
Tudor has already had his contract extended for the Club World Cup finals, and is expected to be judged on both his team's performances and results at the prestigious tournament.
With a decision on next season’s head coach anticipated next month, after the Club World Cup, La Gazzetta dello Sport today claimed that Tudor is ‘the most qualified’ candidate for Juve's coveted hot-seat.
Last season's shortlist
Italy’s best supported club had Conte, Vincenzo Italiano and Motta on their shortlist last term.
Conte went to Napoli and secured their second league title in three seasons. Italiano joined Bologna from Fiorentina, and won the Coppa Italia. With Juve opting for Motta, only for Project Motta to come to an unceremonious end after just nine months.
The club doesn't want a repeat failure, with the expectation that they will pick a safe pair of hands. Wily Gian Piero Gasperini was allegedly in the mix to join Juve, but he left Atalanta after nine seasons to join AS Roma.
Mancini and Xavi
Ex-Italy manager Roberto Mancini and former Barcelona boss Xavi were sounded out months ago, although there appears to be some reservations about both.
Good news for Tudor, who the Italian press claim has been assured by Elkann not to be distracted by the uncertainty about his future.
Tudor has convincingly won over most of the Juventus dressing room, which is a huge plus for him and sway the board to stick with a no nonsense boss despite overseeing many insipid team performances.
Although today's talks were simply a formality, as part of his deal signed in March, Tudor remains no wiser about his Juventus future. The news is that there is no news.