Fabrizio Ravanelli, former Juventus striker and now a Marseille director, has opened up about the biggest mistake of his career — leaving Juventus — and shared candid views on the club’s current state, its leadership under Luciano Spalletti, and key players such as David, Openda and Yildiz.
In a wide-ranging interview with Tuttosport, “Penna Bianca” reflected on the past, the present and his ambitions for the future, revealing that returning to Juventus in an off-field role “would be a dream”.
“I felt betrayed” — Ravanelli on leaving Juve
“The truth is simple: I made too many wrong choices,” Ravanelli admitted. “Starting from when I was a player — I still regret leaving Juventus. It was the biggest mistake of my life, especially because we were living so well in that city.”
He recalled how emotionally charged his exit was at the time. “I acted with my gut rather than my head. I’d never do it again. I felt betrayed by the board at the time. They sold me without telling me, even though I still had three years left on my contract. I could have stayed, dug in, and proved I could rise again at Juve.”
“Umberto Agnelli called me into his office shortly before the sale and told me that one day I could become captain. I had goosebumps. But after the final in Rome they had already arranged everything with Middlesbrough, and I accepted the move only out of a thirst for revenge.”
“Middlesbrough was a misstep — a downgrade. It wasn’t a club with a winning DNA. Things went much better later at Lazio, where I returned to winning, but nothing has ever taken Juventus out of my mind. Only my wife was against leaving Turin; I wasn’t well advised by other people.”
“Returning to Juventus would be a dream”
Ravanelli also reflected on his coaching experiences and his present role as an executive at Marseille. “At Ajaccio, it was impossible to coach, and even in Ukraine at Arsenal Kyiv I found myself without a club structure. But as a director I feel much more suited — at Marseille I’ve understood that this is the right path for me, and I feel fulfilled.”
When asked about the possibility of one day returning to Juventus, he didn’t hesitate: “Come back to Juve in this role? How could I say no? Of course. I think about it — it’s a dream. I don’t know in what capacity, but I’d love to represent Juventus around the world.”
“Spalletti must be tied to the gates of Continassa”
Ravanelli had strong words of praise for both Juve coach Luciano Spalletti and sporting director Damien Comolli.
On Comolli, he said: “I met him in France — we had lunch before Toulouse vs Marseille. He struck me with his competence and presence. He’s modern in his thinking, clear in his ideas, and understands football. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have worked at a club like Liverpool. I believe a lot in this new direction.”
As for Spalletti, Ravanelli was emphatic: “A new cycle can start with him; I don’t see another coach right now. You can’t blame the team after Cagliari — I haven’t seen a Juve like this in years. What impresses me most is the counter-pressing. He’s the captain of this ship. I think his contract should be renewed immediately. He must be tied to the gates of Continassa — honestly, I can’t picture a Juventus without Spalletti.”
“David and Openda lack personality”
Ravanelli also commented on the challenges facing certain attacking targets. “To play for Juventus, you need real guts — not everyone has that,” he said. “Playing for Lille or RB Leipzig is completely different. David and Openda lack a bit of personality. In Turin, the ball weighs more. If you’re not ready for that pressure, you’ll come out of it broken.”
However, he was full of praise for young star Kenan Yildiz. “Would he have played in my Juve? I think so — he’s a top-level player. He could have competed in my Juventus, which was full of champions. I hope he can reach the level of Baggio or Del Piero.”
