Former Juventus striker Darko Kovacevic shared his candid thoughts with Gazzetta dello Sport, offering advice to Dusan Vlahovic and insights into the current Juventus landscape. Here are the key highlights from his interview, including all his notable quotes in English.
On Vlahovic’s Future
Kovacevic didn’t mince words regarding Dusan Vlahovic’s situation at Juventus:
“I would tell Dusan to change air immediately. It’s not easy to leave Juventus—I say this from personal experience—but sometimes you have to challenge yourself again to find happiness and get back to your best. Someone like Vlahovic must always be a starter, whether at Juventus or elsewhere.”
When asked where he could see Vlahovic playing next, Kovacevic replied:
“We can’t afford him at Olympiacos, but Milan and Manchester United could be good solutions for Dusan. And maybe Nottingham Forest… That’s a joke: we have the same ownership as the English club, but I only work for Olympiacos.”
On Competition and Striker Preferences
Discussing the arrival of Jonathan David and competition for places, Kovacevic emphasized the positive side of internal rivalry:
“Competition is never a problem, on the contrary… In my Juventus, we had five great strikers. Our Cabella, who played with David at Lille, has spoken very highly of the Canadian. David is a bomber; in recent seasons with the French, he never scored fewer than 25 goals. But between the two, I always choose Vlahovic. I have a soft spot for Dusan, I would even prefer him to Haaland… And I’d say the same about Osimhen, who would have also done well in black and white.”
On Vlahovic and the Serbian National Team
Kovacevic dismissed concerns that a move or reduced playing time at Juventus could jeopardize Vlahovic’s role with Serbia:
“No, that won’t happen. Vlahovic is a reference point for Serbia and will be a starter regardless, even if he plays less at Juventus. But for a striker to be happy and at his best, he must always be a protagonist. Confidence comes from matches and goals: that’s why I believe it’s best for Dusan to change air immediately.”
On Tudor, Kolo Muani, and Conceição
Kovacevic also commented on coach Igor Tudor’s approach and the club’s transfer strategies:
“I often talk football with Igor, but I don’t get involved in his technical choices. Every coach decides for the good of the team, to win games and achieve objectives. Kolo Muani isn’t a pure goalscorer, but he scores his share and works hard for the team. I fully understand Juventus wanting him back on loan from PSG for next season.”
On the potential signing of Francisco Conceição:
“I understand Igor. Conceição is all about dribbling and one-on-one situations: modern football is heading in that direction. It’s no coincidence that Yildiz is Juventus’ most precious diamond: great talent and he really seems to have something of Del Piero. But Ale was unique.”
On Zidane and Modesto
Kovacevic offered a personal note about Zinedine Zidane:
“Zizou was even better as a person than as a player.”
He also spoke about François Modesto, highlighting his understanding of Juventus’ culture:
“When we worked together in Greece, he always asked me about my experience at Juventus. I always told him that in Turin, only winning counts—even a draw is seen as a disaster. Back in my day, after a draw with Lecce, we immediately met with Giraudo, Moggi, and Bettega. That’s Juventus, and I repeated this to Modesto just last Saturday when I called to wish him good luck. Maybe in the future, there will be some business with the Bianconeri, why not…”
