Monday’s Italian front pages are dominated by two stories: the ongoing crisis surrounding the Italian national team coaching appointment, and Juventus’s accelerating pursuit of John Stones. The Gazzetta dello Sport leads with “Maldini Ready to Leave” whilst Tuttosport also prominently features Stones on its front page alongside the Pirlo controversy.
Contacts Renewed — Juventus Move to Pip the Competition
Juventus have renewed contacts with John Stones as the bianconeri attempt to move ahead of their rivals in the race for the free-agent centre-back — with Premier League clubs and Inter both monitoring the former Manchester City defender, though none having yet made a concrete move.
The English international is intrigued by the idea of continuing his career outside his comfort zone of the Premier League — the only top division he has ever played in — and the prospect of joining a historic club in a new footballing environment appeals to him personally.
At the Etihad, Stones accumulated 19 major honours across a decade, including the Champions League victory against Inter in Istanbul, making almost 300 appearances under Pep Guardiola, who he credits as the manager who most transformed his career: “Pep wants me to always ask for the ball and never hide. He improved me in every aspect.”
The Sporting Case — and the Familiar Caveats
At 32 and available at zero transfer cost, Stones represents exactly the kind of commercially disciplined, quality-driven signing that Carnevali has built his reputation on. A defensive addition is required to cover the likely departure of at least one centre-back from Gatti, Rugani, and potentially Bremer — all three of whom have transfer market interest.
The concerns, however, are well known and cannot be dismissed. Stones’s injury record at Manchester City was a persistent obstacle to his consistent selection, and building Juventus’s defensive plans around a player whose physical reliability cannot be guaranteed carries real risk. Di Marzio himself noted on Calciomercato L’Originale that whilst the interest is genuine, there are no significant developments as yet — Stones remains one of several names under careful observation rather than a deal close to conclusion.
A Window Reaching Its Decisive Moment
The Kolo Muani deal continues to advance with the objective of having the French striker in Turin before the squad departs for the Asian pre-season tour — whilst Openda’s loan to Lyon on a straight loan basis has been agreed. The defensive picture remains the other urgent item on Carnevali and Massara’s agenda. Stones, Lucumí, Gatti’s potential Napoli move, and Bremer’s Galatasaray pursuit are all active files — and with the tour departure date immovable, the decisions can no longer be deferred.
