From promising Portuguese prospect to missing man — Joao Mario’s fall from grace at Juventus has been as swift as it is surprising. With no space in Luciano Spalletti’s plans, the full‑back has featured for just 11 minutes in Serie A this season and could now be heading for a move away in January.
Tuttosport report how the right‑back, signed last season to replace Alberto Costa, arrived in Turin with strong credentials and big expectations. Yet after initially featuring sporadically under Igor Tudor — picking up seven league appearances and two in the Champions League — he has now completely disappeared from the radar. His last league appearance dates back to 1 November, Spalletti’s debut against Cremonese, when he played a brief cameo. Since then, he has gone unused in five consecutive Serie A fixtures and was even overlooked when Juventus exhausted all substitutions against Bologna.
Frozen Out by Spalletti
The message from Spalletti appears clear. Joao Mario is not part of his tactical vision. His absence extends to Europe as well, having failed to play a single minute in the Champions League group stage, reduced instead to a spectator’s role from the bench.
The only minor exception came in the Coppa Italia, where he was handed an 18‑minute cameo — a small consolation for a player whose patience is visibly running thin. His representatives are expected to meet Juventus management soon to discuss options, as January could open a path for both parties to move on amicably.
Crystal Palace Monitoring the Situation
Across the Channel, Crystal Palace could offer an escape route. The London club are searching for a right‑sided defender and have been monitoring several targets, including Bayern Munich’s Sacha Boey. Should that option fall through, Joao Mario is believed to be among their alternatives.
While initial contacts have been limited to preliminary enquiries, Palace’s interest could gather pace if Juventus open the door to negotiations. For the Bianconeri, recouping the €11.4 million invested in the Portuguese player would make a potential sale far easier to accept — particularly with Spalletti reportedly seeking a more dynamic replacement suited to his quick‑passing game.
As January approaches, the message is becoming unmistakable: Joao Mario’s time in Turin may be drawing to a quiet close.
