Former Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara has praised the impact of Luciano Spalletti at the club, crediting the coach for restoring belief and unity within the squad. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport about the Bianconeri’s current form and key team issues, Ferrara also shared his views on Jonathan David, Federico Chiesa, and Kenan Yildiz.
David and Spalletti’s Trust
Ferrara began by reflecting on Jonathan David’s adaptation to life in Turin:
“It’s never easy to settle at Juventus, especially for players arriving from abroad. One thing is clear to me – if David hadn’t earned the respect of his teammates in recent months, they wouldn’t have celebrated his goal in that way. Everyone was genuinely happy for him.”
He also praised Spalletti’s man-management after the forward’s missed penalty:
“Spalletti handled it perfectly. Penalties can be missed, but instead of punishing him, Luciano showed trust by confirming David as a starter against Sassuolo. The player responded in the best possible way. It was a gesture of faith, and it paid off.”
Spalletti’s Future
Ferrara believes the coach deserves a contract renewal, even though Juventus’s hierarchy may prefer to wait.
“Managers are always judged by results, and I don’t know if the club wants to wait for Champions League qualification. But Spalletti has earned a renewal for how he has revived this team. He’s brought back confidence after the heavy defeat to Napoli. Juve are now close to the top, even if Napoli and Inter remain the strongest contenders. The weekend clash will be important – not decisive, but it could shift the mood among the chasing teams.”
Title Ambitions
On the Scudetto race, Ferrara remained realistic but optimistic:
“At Juventus, you always have to think about the title – it’s in the club’s DNA. You can’t win it every year, but the ambition must remain. At the moment, Spalletti’s team looks more like third or fourth place material, but anything can happen if they maintain consistency.”
Chiesa and the Importance of Italians
Discussing a potential return for Federico Chiesa, Ferrara emphasised the importance of domestic talent:
“For Federico, returning could be the right move – he needs playing time to revive his career. Juventus should invest more in Italian players; it’s part of their identity. Someone like Sandro Tonali is worth a serious effort, now or in the summer.”
Yildiz Renewal a Priority
Finally, Ferrara addressed ongoing talks to extend Kenan Yildiz’s contract:
“These are natural dynamics in football. The more he grows, the more interest he attracts. Juventus must protect their number ten and build around him. Nowadays it’s hard for Italian clubs to buy top stars, so they can’t afford to lose the ones they already have.”
He added a note of caution about comparisons:
“Yildiz reminds many of Del Piero, but it’s too early for parallels. Ale won everything because he played in a great team that amplified his immense talent. The best thing for Yildiz now is to focus on his own journey.”
