Jonathan David has opened up about his first few months at Juventus — a period marked by challenges, adaptation, and new ambitions for the second half of the season. Speaking to La Repubblica, the Canadian forward reflected on his early struggles in Turin, his determination to improve, and his belief that his hard work will eventually pay off.
Settling Into Life at Juventus
The 24-year-old arrived in the summer amid great expectations, but the transition to Serie A hasn’t been straightforward. “I’m aware I haven’t met expectations, but I’m trying to speed things up,” David admitted. Yet despite the initial difficulties, he remains upbeat and focused on the long term.
David is expected to get another big opportunity in the upcoming clash with Napoli — a club he had been in talks with before ultimately choosing Juventus. “I don’t regret the choice I made and I would make it again. Time will set things right,” he insisted.
A New Footballing Reality
The move from France to Italy required significant adjustment, particularly when it came to the tactical and physical demands of Serie A. “At Juve, I’m still settling in: football here is very different from in France. It’s like changing schools; you have to learn how to get to know your classmates. Even at Lille, I struggled at first — I scored three goals in the first six months, more or less like here. But by the end of the year, it became 13, and the following season I scored more than 20,” he explained.
Learning From Setbacks
David also spoke candidly about key moments from this season — notably, his missed penalty against Lecce and his goal celebration against Sassuolo. “I put that penalty behind me right away: I wasn’t upset for myself, but because it cost us the win. With Sassuolo, there was that collective celebration after my goal — it was spontaneous, but it didn’t surprise me because before the game Spalletti had said some strong words that brought the group together. I really appreciated that moment.”
Competition Up Front
The Canadian striker is also aware of the growing competition within the squad, especially with Youssef En-Nesyri’s arrival in Turin reportedly imminent. For David, it’s a challenge to embrace rather than fear. “I didn’t come here to be untouchable. Consistency helps a lot, but you have to earn your place with performances. I’d have no problem playing with another striker — the most important thing is learning to understand each other,” he said.
“To reach the point where you always know where the ball will go without needing to think, and your teammate knows where to find you without looking — that’s the process I still need to complete. Spalletti works a lot on this kind of connection, but for it to become perfect, you need more than a year together. At Lille, I had that understanding with Zhegrova, who hasn’t yet shown what he can do here. He’s had many physical issues — sometimes he can train properly, and other times not.”
