Juventus star criticized as club urged to find 'high-level' No.9 striker
By Eduardo Razo
Juventus have struggled to score in their last two matches, with scoreless draws against AS Roma and Empoli. As a result, Dušan Vlahović is being criticized, considering the player's wages and lack of goal-scoring production.
Vlahović has scored two goals in four appearances this 2024-25 season, but the 24-year-old is in the headlines not just for his lack of goals in the past two matches but also because his contract is set to expire in 2026.
After this season, the Serbian international's current deal will expire in one year as Juventus will have to decide whether to extend him or sell the player next summer.
Juventus must find a world-class striker
In this past weekend's match against Empoli, Vlahović had one big chance missed while having four total shots. Meanwhile, in the contest against Roma, the striker had three total shots, so this lackluster production led to criticism from journalist Paolo Paganini.
"I think that Juventus, in perspective, must find a high-level first striker," Paganini wrote on X (h/t TuttoJuve). "Vlahović, even for what he was paid, has not shown himself to be a striker capable of making the difference in Italy and in Europe."
Vlahović arrived at Juventus in 2022 from Fiorentina and has appeared in 104 matches for I Bianconeri across all competitions, scoring 43 goals and registering nine assists.
The Serbia native scored 20-plus goals during the 2021-22 Serie A season, which was split between playing for Fiorentina and Juventus.
Since then, he's yet to hit the 20-goal mark, but he came close last season, scoring 16 goals in league play.
It will be interesting to see whether Juventus do look for another No. 9 or give their confidence in Vlahović by giving him a contract extension.
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