After missing the Champions League
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CEO Damien Comolli is leaving the Italian record champions Juventus after just one year and his successor has already been chosen. Giovanni Carnevali, who has been in charge of US Sassuolo since 2014 and also sits on the Serie A board, is moving to Turin. There, the 65-year-old Italian will be responsible for the Bianconeri’s development strategy.
Sassuolo, which benefits from the support of the construction chemicals manufacturer Mapei and its boss Giorgio Squinzi, who died in 2019, had established itself in Serie A under Carnevali’s leadership. In 2016/17 the Neroverdi reached the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history. Sassuolo was relegated in 2023/24, but managed direct promotion again and reached eleventh place last season.
The club was always considered to be run progressively and helped talents such as its record goalscorer Domenico Berardi (31), who became European champion in 2021 and is still at the club, Gianluca Scamacca (27, Atalanta), Manuel Locatelli (28, Juventus), Davide Frattesi (26, Inter) and Giacomo Raspadori (26, Atalanta) to achieve a breakthrough.
Sassuolo also often showed a good hand with coaches. Eusebio Di Francesco was in office there for a total of five years with one interruption and then led Roma to the Champions League semi-finals. Today’s Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi had his first successes there before his international career and promotion coach Fabio Grosso just moved to Fiorentina. The new coach is to be former Liverpool professional Alberto Aquilani, who with the second division team US Catanzaro only failed in the promotion play-off final at Monza. With the Calabrians he played attractive offensive football and relied on now sought-after talents such as Mattia Liberali (19), Alphadjo Cissè (19) and Costantino Favasuli (22).
Juventus leadership change: That’s what Carnevali and Comolli say
“I am proud and honored to become part of a club with such a rich history and a strong identity,” Carnevali said in a Juventus statement. “I would like to thank the club, the majority shareholder and John Elkann for the trust they have placed in me. I approach this new challenge with a strong sense of responsibility and with the conviction that through daily commitment it is possible to shape a sustainable growth path and a successful future. Together with all areas of the company, we will work to ensure that Juventus remains a leading force at both national and international level, with full respect for the club’s heritage and the ambitions of our fans.”
Comolli only moved to Turin a year ago after five years as president of FC Toulouse, where he initially worked as managing director. In November 2025 he was appointed CEO. However, after a weak end to the season, Juventus missed qualifying for the Champions League again, where the proud club failed ignominiously to Galatasaray in the second round in 2025/26 with 2:5 and 3:2 nV.
“I have decided to step down from my position as managing director of Juventus Football Club with immediate effect,” Comolli said. “I would like to thank John Elkann and Exor for giving me the opportunity to work for such a prestigious club. I would also like to thank all my colleagues at Juventus for their commitment, professionalism and commitment and wish both the women’s and men’s teams every success for the coming season. Finally, a special thank you goes to the Juventus fans for their incredible support. They are what truly make this club unique and special.”