Igor Tudor, the former Juve defender, has triggered talks with the club hierarchy over a one-year deal in being appointed permanent manager after securing a Champions League berth.
Yet Tudor’s post-match comments, following Juve’s hard-fought win at Venezia, regarding his future leave uncertainty about his involvement at the Club World Cup finals.
Agent makes apology
Tudor’s agent Anthony Seric told told Sky Sport Italia this morning that his client categorically will remain in charge for the Club World Cup.
Seric said: "He will not pressure the club about his future decision. He clearly hopes to still be the Juventus coach next season, and will respect the timing of their choice.
"He has an excellent relationship with [Cristiano] Giuntoli and all parts of the club. He spoke with Cristiano after his post-match interview, and Igor will honour his commitment to lead Juventus at the Club World Cup."
Tudor was installed after Thiago Motta was sacked in late March, brought in as a short-term troubleshooter with nine Serie A games remaining.
The no-nonsense Croatia, back at Juventus for a third time having excelled as a player and failed as assistant manager, was given the objective to qualify for the Champions League.
Champions League route
He achieved the task set by the skin of his teeth, thanks to a 3-2 triumph at Venezia on Sunday. His reward, as part of his contract agreement, is to discuss the role of Juventus permanent manager for the 2025/26 campaign.
For some unknown reason there have been weeks of mutterings by numerous misinformed Italian media outlets that Tudor would automatically be handed a one-year contract by achieving a top four finish in Serie A.
Juve’s league position has now earned them financial riches through Champions League involvement. This means that sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli’s ambitious summer transfer wishlist can now be consulted, with a plethora top-class players attracted to the club.
It also means that those managers wanted by Juventus are attainable. The pick of the bunch are the trio of former Juve head coach Antonio Conte, Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini and ex-Italy boss Roberto Mancini.
Crystal clear future
Giuntoli has always been very clear in press conferences that Tudor’s position would be assessed after Juventus have played in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup finals, which kick off on 14 June in the United States.
Tudor’s contract as interim head coach ends on 30 June, which is only enough to oversee the round-robin stages of the revamped competition.
Should he remain in charge and steer them to the Club World Cup knockout stages, by finishing in the top two positions of a four-team group, then a contract extension would be required for Tudor to continue.
However, no-nonsense Tudor appears to not wish to play the waiting game while Juve’s club hierarchy effectively hedge their bets on who will be at the helm next season.
Tudor wants to be judged on his short Serie A stint, having collected 18 points from a possible 27 with just one defeat.
Shock post-match words
The 47-year-old delivered a bombshell by revealing to Sky Sport Italia at a post-match press conference that his position at Juventus will be determined before the Club World Cup tournament in less than three weeks.
Tudor, when asked about his future, explained: “I can’t say anything. We [Tudor and the club board] will talk and decide soon.
“We were all focused on the end of the season, all the games. I didn’t even want to talk about this.
“Now we have the Club World Cup, but all this will be solved before that.”
Tudor's threatening outburst
Making his stance clear that he doesn’t wish to simply keep the manager’s hot seat warm at the Club World Cup, Tudor added: “It would not be a good idea to go there without a decision, or to make a decision [to change] but still go there with the same coach. It would not be serious for the club or the coach.”
Tudor’s words could cause chaos, because bringing in a new head coach with such a short time before the Club World Cup presents problems. Despite the backtracking by his agent.
Both Conte and Gasperini would not be able to leave their contracts until the end of next month, as Serie A regulations do not permit managers joining rival clubs until 30 June.
Xavi and Zidane
That leaves only a free agent to take the reins at the prestigious Club World Cup. That appears to narrow it down to Mancini, ex-Barcelona boss Xavi and former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.
All three could potentially fill the gap on a short-term basis if the club is determined to bring in either Conte or Gasperini. However, there will be plenty of Juventus rejects in the squad for the prestigious Club World Cup competition.
With Mancini unlikely to happily hold the fort after being snubbed by Juve in March, he would probably push for a permanent contract rather than play a bit-part.