Juventus News

The Juve Paradox: Red Alert Goalkeeper, Open Construction Site with Good Ideas, and the Midfield Enigma

August 16, 2026Pablo Navarro2 мин

Juventus enters the season with a clear paradox: a market that has operated reasonably well, yet is spectacularly faltering in the most sought-after and immediately highlighted position – the goalkeeper. The significant delay in identifying and signing a starting goalkeeper for the Bianconeri is a major blemish on this transfer window. The handling of this situation is perplexing; even a management team historically criticized for delays and glaring errors, like the one formed by Cristiano Giuntoli and Damien Comolli, would have struggled to do worse. This current void is dangerously precarious for a club aiming to reclaim its former glory.

Spalletti and the Rejection of Vicario

The breakdown becomes even more apparent when examining specific situations. Luciano Spalletti continues to send decisive signals, leading one to question why Vicario isn't being pursued given the complete emergency. The former Empoli goalkeeper, now at Tottenham, could have already been at Juventus, yet the Tuscan coach seems to be delaying, held back by tactical doubts or evaluations that, just days before the league starts, Juventus cannot afford to make. Amidst this chaos, another certainty exists regarding Perin: it's evident to everyone that the goalkeeper from Latina is not considered the starter and finds himself once again relegated to the role of an eternal alternative.

Not Just Negatives, Quite the Opposite...

However, it would be unfair not to look at the rest. While the assessment of the goalkeeper situation is severely insufficient, the club's management has operated discreetly on other market operations. There is a plan, an idea of football, and a clear desire to fundamentally change the team's identity.

But to complete the overhaul, more is needed. Certainly, a striker to partner with Kolo Muani, though here decisions depend on David's situation. Then, a midfielder with the characteristics of Franck Kessié is required. The Ivorian is the player of substance and drive that this team desperately needs. To make space for him, however, the mission is clear: Juventus must manage to offload two or three surplus midfielders in just fifteen days. It's a race against time to trim the squad and balance the books.

The Usual Midfield Problem, But What About Past Investments?

Fans, for their part, are entirely correct when they identify the midfield as the biggest problem and the Achilles' heel of recent seasons. We cannot, however, forget the reality of the facts and finances: just two years ago, over 100 million euros were spent to strengthen the department with the signings of Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz, and Khéphren Thuram. These were significant investments that, to date, have not yielded the expected results and weigh heavily on current strategies.

No Magic Wands Exist

The fundamental truth is that magic wands do not exist. To completely dismantle and rebuild a team, eradicating old tactical misunderstandings, will require at least two full transfer windows. The Juventus construction site is open, and work is underway: a necessary undertaking, provided that someone who can quickly defend those dangerously exposed posts is found.