Former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta believes that Lois Openda could be a better fit than Dušan Vlahović for Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus, praising the Belgian forward’s qualities after his breakthrough performance against Roma.
“The Belgian is exactly the kind of player Spalletti’s Juventus need most,” Costacurta said when analysing the Bianconeri’s attacking options. His comments come after Openda scored his first Serie A goal in the 2–1 victory over Roma at the Allianz Stadium — a crucial strike that helped Juventus maintain their momentum in the title race.
Before that goal, Openda’s last league effort had come back in April, when he was still playing for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Since joining Juventus, the 25-year-old has needed time to adapt to Spalletti’s system, but his recent performance may have shifted the internal pecking order in attack.
At the moment, Openda appears to have overtaken Canadian striker Jonathan David in Spalletti’s selections, with both players competing for the central forward role while Dušan Vlahović recovers from injury.
Costacurta believes Openda’s pace, versatility, and movement make him better suited to Juve’s current tactical setup than the Serbian frontman. “Openda presses high, works tirelessly, and stretches defences — qualities essential for the way Spalletti wants his team to play,” he explained. “Vlahović is a great striker, but Openda’s characteristics link up better with the players around him, especially with McKennie and Thuram behind the striker line.”
