Giovanni Carnevali made his most substantial public appearance as Juventus chief executive on the sidelines of the traditional transfer window opening ceremony at the Grand Hotel in Rimini — and his words, delivered in the mixed zone to waiting journalists, were characteristically precise, candid, and unsparing.
“A Mix of Emotions — and a Lot of Responsibility”
Carnevali opened with a candid reflection on the enormity of what he has taken on. “The emotion of being at Juventus? A mix of things — many emotions, much responsibility. There is a great deal to build. We need to work hard, try not to make mistakes, and do things in the right way.” It is the tone of a man who understands the scale of the task, has no interest in overpromising, and intends to let his actions speak first.
“I Have Never Spoken to Vlahović”
One of the most striking moments came when Carnevali addressed the Dušan Vlahović situation directly. Despite weeks of media speculation about a possible renewal, the new chief executive was unambiguous: he has had no direct contact with the Serbian striker. “I have never spoken with Vlahović,” he confirmed. The contract expired on 30 June, the player is now a free agent, and Carnevali has drawn a clear line under that chapter — at least for now.
“Kolo Muani and a Goalkeeper Are the Priorities”
On the incoming front, Carnevali was equally direct about where Juventus’s energy is focused. Kolo Muani — whose personal terms with the club have already been agreed — and a new first-choice goalkeeper are the two absolute priorities for this window. The meeting with PSG sporting director Luis Campos today in Rimini was the first formal step in the club-to-club negotiation, and Carnevali confirmed it was productive. The gap between PSG’s asking price of over €40 million and Juventus’s position of a maximum €35 million including bonuses remains, but the tone of the conversation was positive.
“Dibu and Muharemović Appeal to Us”
On the goalkeeper search, Carnevali was refreshingly open about the names that appeal most. Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez of Aston Villa remains the primary target — personal terms have already been agreed in principle — and the new CEO confirmed his admiration for the Argentine World Cup winner. He also explicitly name-checked Tarik Muharemović, the Bosnian centre-back currently at Sassuolo and a player Carnevali knows intimately from his years in Emilia, as a defensive target the club finds genuinely attractive.
“Lucumí? Not at Those Numbers”
Perhaps the most operationally significant statement of the entire press conference concerned Jhon Lucumí of Bologna. Despite weeks of reporting linking Juventus to the Colombian centre-back, Carnevali effectively poured cold water on a deal at current market prices. “Lucumí? Not at those figures,” he said. It is a clear signal that the €28 million release clause — and Bologna’s resistance to accepting less — remains a genuine obstacle, and that Carnevali is in no mood to overpay when an alternative in Muharemović offers comparable quality at, in effect, half the price thanks to Juventus’s sell-on clause.
A CEO Finding His Feet — and His Voice
Taken together, Carnevali’s Rimini briefing offered the clearest picture yet of how the new Juventus administration intends to operate: transparently, deliberately, and with a firm grip on financial reality. No Vlahović pursuit that does not exist. No overpaying for Lucumí when a smarter alternative is available. A clear attacking priority in Kolo Muani, and a goalkeeper search that has Dibu Martínez at the top of the list. After weeks of rumour and transition, Juventus’s new era is finally speaking with a single, clear voice.
