Ezio Greggio — comedian, television personality, and one of the most recognisably devoted Juventus supporters in Italian public life — has given Tuttosport one of the more entertaining and characteristically direct post-Milan assessments of the new season. Speaking to Cristiano Corbo, he covered Comolli’s legacy, John Elkann, Kolo Muani vs David, Woltemade the “caterpillar,” and the examples set by Gatti and Locatelli — with the warmth and lack of filter of a man who loves this club with his entire being and has no professional obligation to say anything other than exactly what he thinks.
“I Haven’t Been to the Stadium Since Covid — Because I Don’t Go to Watch French Teams”
Greggio returned to the Allianz Stadium for the first time in years for the Milan match — and the reason for his extended absence was delivered with characteristic comic timing. “I don’t go to watch French teams. Long live Italy. With all due respect to the French — and to the duds they sent us…”
On the new administration: “A round of applause for Carnevali and his group. I challenge anyone to arrive in roles like that and manage to find places for players who are not Juventus standard and never will be. And a salute to John Elkann through your columns: fortunately he understood that this ‘Frenchification’ was not a positive thing.”
“This Is a Different Juventus — Seven Points in Three Matches and My Judgment Is Positive”
Despite returning after a long absence, Greggio was immediately positive about what he saw. “I was thinking about it on the way back from the Stadium. With the Milan match, I saw an absolutely positive Juventus. The starting point is this: it used to be a Juventus always facing backwards, never forward. Never a shot. With Spalletti the team has changed.” On the draw’s specific pain: “If Nico had put it in, or if Locatelli had done a tap-in, we would have been 2-0 and nobody would have said a word. Clearly, if you don’t score, the music is different.” His overall verdict: “Seven points in three matches — and my judgment as a blindfolded, black-and-white-sick Juventus supporter is positive. This is a different Juventus. A good start.”
“Kolo Muani Is Not Platini — but What a Difference from David. The Canadian Was Trotting Around with a Belly”
On the centre-forward comparison that has dominated the summer’s narrative, Greggio was generous about Kolo Muani and devastating about his predecessor. “I liked what Spalletti said — he is on his wagon, and it is a player who has been seen little in recent years. At Juventus you arrive and you have to be Platini or Zidane immediately, but that is difficult. He missed some goals in the opening matches, against Milan he seemed a little lost. Maybe it was also the caterpillar we signed — Woltemade. For me he will be an excellent resource: you have to wait for him to find his scoring form.” The Woltemade parenthesis — “the caterpillar” — was delivered with evident affection rather than criticism: a tall, powerful machine that will need time to show its full capabilities. The contrast with David, however, was brutally concise: “Between him and David there is already a big difference. The Canadian was trotting around with a bit of a belly — Kolo goes at a gallop.”
“Gatti and Locatelli Are an Example — the Juventus Rage That Has Always Been There”
On Federico Gatti’s equaliser celebration — which drew criticism from Tacchinardi for lacking the obsessive winning mentality required at Juventus — Greggio took the opposite view entirely. “Federico is really something special. If they had sold him it would have pained me. He has a competitive spirit — I hope it can contaminate the others, because the Juventus players are lacking it a little. If I can give one piece of advice: follow Locatelli, follow Gatti. They have competitiveness, strength, rage. Juventus has always had angry people. If you are here you evidently have the qualities — but they must be accompanied by the desire to smash everything.”
On Locatelli’s departure before injury: “He is not an architect or a geometrist — but what a player. He ran and fought until the very last.”
“Spalletti Has Changed Everything — Thank Him for Coming. Douglas Luiz Needs More Rhythm”
On the manager: “From when Luciano arrived at Juventus, I have been happy. I said to him: ‘Thank you for coming here.’ He told me I was looking well — and I replied that he was too. You simply have to trust Spalletti: he understands football and footballers. He is certainly the manager who can take us back to the top, together with the direction of Carnevali.”
On Douglas Luiz, whose performance against Milan drew warm words from Spalletti: “He needs to find more rhythm — to do a little less ‘Venezia’. But he plays forward, looks for the ball, the right through-ball for the strikers. Let us not forget that seven players were missing — even nine. There are those who still have things to prove. Sarr is a strong one and can make the difference. We must factor that into the analysis.”
