Alessandro Barnaba, head of the Merlyn Advisors fund and owner of Lille since 2020, spoke (as quoted by calciomercato) at the Football Business Forum organised by SDA Bocconi in Milan. The Italian executive discussed the club’s competitive model and also shared his thoughts on Jonathan David’s early challenges at Juventus.
“We had to let go of some important players,” Barnaba admitted, “but that doesn’t necessarily mean the team we have now is weaker than the previous one. We’re a transitional club; our goal is to attract players, develop them, and then let them move on. There are exceptions of course – think of Giroud, who decided to return. We also have young talents like Bouaddi and Fernandez-Pardo.”
On David’s difficulties in Turin, Barnaba offered a frank assessment: “I know Jonathan very well; we spent five years together and discussed a possible contract renewal with him and Letang. We didn’t reach an agreement – he wanted to play in a top league like Italy or England. It’s never easy to switch leagues, and he’s a very atypical number nine. He hasn’t found a team built around him as Lille was, so I expected some early difficulties. That said, if you look at the work he does defensively, it’s exceptional. He doesn’t have the classic striker’s instinct for goals.”
Turning to the wider world of football, Barnaba drew comparisons between working environments in different countries. “Running a football club in France is much easier than in Italy, especially in cities with less pressure like Lille. In Italy, there’s a level of pressure from fans that you just don’t find elsewhere – you can’t ignore it as you might in other places.”
He also spoke about Olivier Giroud’s return to France: “Giroud has remained deeply attached to his Italian experience. For him, coming back to France was an easy decision. He plays every match, either starting or coming off the bench. He’s got an important opportunity here, one he lacked in Los Angeles. Many players don’t play for more money, but for passion.”
Finally, Barnaba offered an update on Edon Zhegrova’s recovery and transition to Juventus. “Zhegrova is one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen, but he suffered a serious injury that was initially underestimated. He needed surgery and couldn’t play any matches until the end of the season. He joined Juventus after eight months without competitive football and lacks rhythm. For a player with his pace and quickness, it takes time. I expected that he might struggle to fully recover straight away. We have Tiago Santos, who also underwent surgery and is finding it tough to regain form. The pace of the game now is very high, and it naturally takes months to reach top condition again. But Edon remains an exceptional player, and perhaps Spalletti will be able to manage his creativity. If he does, I’m sure he’ll do very well in Italy.”
