Juventus CEO Damien Comolli will have to mediate between the needs of the field and those of cash: in addition to a midfielder (with Hojbjerg on pole), reinforcements are being sought on the right wing
Between two fires. In just over two weeks, when the January transfer window officially opens, Juventus CEO Damien Comolli will find himself having to work in a very narrow corridor. On the one hand, in fact, the Juventus club needs to not exceed the parameters of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (for which a proceeding was opened in September for the potential violation of the Football Earning Rule for the three-year period 2022/2023-2024/2025) but, on the other hand, Luciano Spalletti’s bid for fourth place must be supported. Which always represents the minimum objective to reach a balanced budget in 2027. “Opportunities” is therefore the watchword at Continassa, perhaps also taking advantage of the prospect of the next North American World Cup to convince some players to leave a club in which they don’t find much space to try to relaunch themselves in Turin. With one specification: compared to the last technical direction, Comolli does not like to carry out dry loan operations, which only contribute to enhancing the assets of others. Perhaps with creative formulas, therefore, but Juve will try to gain control of the cards of any new signings.
Juve, looking for a right winger in January
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Having said that the primary objective is the midfield, with Marseille’s Hojbjerg in the front row and Davide Frattesi following, the other need is to provide Spalletti with an alternative on the right flank of defence. On the other hand, after the Tudor management, even with the new coach on the bench, Joao Mario confirmed himself as little more than a supporting player: just 27 (11 in the league and 16 in the Italian Cup) minutes played by the Portuguese with the Tuscan coach. With the next move to a back four, among other things, the problem will become even more acute, considering that the only one capable of playing the role is Pierre Kalulu. The Juventus dream would be to bring Marco Palestra to Turin, owned by Atalanta and who is having a great season on loan at Cagliari. Already explored in the summer, an indispensable offer would be needed to convince the Nerazzurri to let him leave in January and, above all, to overcome very strong competition, including from the Premier League. Here, then, the alternatives are examined: among the names there are two French. The first is Malo Gusto from Chelsea, a short right winger with good drive and technique, who lately is finding more space in Maresca’s formation compared to the difficulties of the past. The second is the baby Christian Mawissa from Monaco, who Comolli knows well having had him at Toulouse: a central defender capable of playing on the wing, 20 years old, he is not finding much space on the Côte d’Azur so far and can represent “an opportunity”. Certainly, however, it will not be easy to match field needs with cash needs.