Former Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli was pretty lenient with Thiago Motta, who was allowed to splash the cash when he was the head coach. The club are now paying the price.
Despite having signed Canada striker Jonathan David as a free agent and winger Francisco Conceicao for €32 million (US$37.6m) this month, Juve are struggling to make their promised summer revamp.
Portugal international Francisco Conceicao was on loan from FC Porto last term, with no option to buy.
Juve showed no interest in signing him, until head coach Igor Tudor was forced to field the 22-year-old because of injuries and suspensions. Conceicao took his opportunity with aplomb and soon convinced the club of his value courtesy of some dynamic displays.
Tudor is single-minded when it comes to players. He picks out his favorites, and makes it very clear which individuals are not part of his plans. This approach follows a very similar pattern to Motta, and we all know how that working relationship came crashing to a halt.
As Juve desperately need players to be sold to free up funds to bolster their squad, clubs interested in making an acquisition are generally being cautious about forking out the big bucks. These teams are aware of the Turin team’s financial predicament, so tend to be coy.
There’s a reason why Juventus are stuttering with their summer overhaul, and that’s because they have already spent more than €100m (US$117.5m) on loanees this month.
Free-spending Motta was given carte blanche to pick out a plethora of players that were expensive, but many were flops such as Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz.
Quintet convert from loanees to permanent
Yet there were five loanees that arrived under Motta, and have since become permanent contract players with the Serie A giants.
Goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, winger Nicolas Gonzalez plus the defensive duo of Pierre Kalulu and Lloyd Kelly became fully-fledged to Juventus on 1 July.
Di Gregorio arrived on loan from AC Monza 12 months ago, where he collected the prestigious Serie A accolade Best Goalkeeper in Serie A accolade.
He arrived in Turin with a conditional obligation to buy for €14.3 million (US$16.8m), choosing Juventus over the opportunity to join Liverpool. The previous season he had turned down the chance to sign for Nottingham Forest.
Apart from shipping seven goals in two Serie A games, which signaled the end of Motta at the helm, Di Gregorio was pretty formidable between the sticks.
His footwork and shotstopping skills were admired all term, although his crowning glory was against Real Madrid at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 27-year-old pulled off 10 superb saves to deny the Spanish powerhouse a hefty victory.
Di Gregorio eyes up Azzurri
Although Di Gregorio has been monitored by AS Roma, Inter Milan and Manchester City, he is determined to further develop his potential with the Bianconeri to earn international call-ups for Italy.
The loan of Argentine ace Gonzalez, with an obligation to buy for €28.1m (US$33m), was designed to start chipping in with goals and to link up with his former Fiorentina team-mate Dusan Vlahovic.
The 27-year-old has yet to become a real threat going forward in a Juve jersey, and experienced a disappointing campaign. There’s plenty of interest from clubs to land Gonzalez, who scored a dozen Serie A goals for Fiorentina during his 2023/24 campaign.
Kalulu has been exceptional for the Bianconeri, except for picking up a red card against Lazio, The 24-year-old center-back was brought in on a season-long loan from AC Milan last August, and played in 29 Serie A matches in his debut season for Juve.
Juventus bought the French defender for €14m (US$16.4m), which now appears to be a real bargain.
Conceicao, once given his chance to impress Tudor, did so in style with his relentless running and energetic performances. He wasn't cheap but could become a club legend over the years.
Motta's mistake remains at club
Kelly, a misfit at Newcastle United, was a surprise choice to shore up the backline in February. There were plenty of alternatives, but Motta pushed for the 26-year-old. He cost the club €17.2m (US$20.2m).
According to numerous Juve fans on various fan forums, Kelly was Motta’s worst signing. The club are trying to offload the center-back and have provisionally lined up his potential replacement.
Conceicao may have
Giuntoli was given the boot at the end of the season. The club had to deal with the mess he left behind from payment schedules that he spread out over six or 12 months.
Juventus' goals may need altering
It appears that instead of the big name players being constantly mentioned in the Italian media, Juve are best to pick up loanees, outcasts and elevate some Juventus Next Gen aces.
Gone are those bygone years of the Bianconeri being the most attractive club to join, because silverware was as good as guaranteed, with the reality that the club are short of finances but not ambition.
Winning trophies on a shoestring is a scarcity in Europe. It looks like mission impossible for Juventus, despite being priced by bookmakers as the third favorites to lift the next Serie A trophy