Former Juventus midfielder Massimo Mauro shared a frank assessment of the Bianconeri’s current situation in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, touching on topics ranging from Kenan Yildiz’s leadership qualities to the challenges faced by the club’s new signings and head coach Luciano Spalletti.
Mauro described Yildiz as the most important player in Juventus’ squad but argued that he is not yet a world-class talent. “He’s the key figure for Juventus right now, together with Thuram and Cambiaso, but he’s not yet the champion this team needs,” said Mauro. “He doesn’t yet have the right environment to take full responsibility for such an important club. Perhaps he doesn’t have the traits of a leader. He can be a great number two, but there needs to be a true number one alongside him.”
According to the former player, giving Yildiz the number 10 shirt was justifiable, but awarding him the captain’s armband was a step too far. “The shirt wasn’t a mistake. The captaincy, in my opinion, was. He doesn’t have the characteristics needed for that role. He’d thrive at clubs like Manchester City or Real Madrid, where responsibilities are shared among several players.”
Lack of Leaders in the Squad
Mauro was equally critical of the overall level of Juventus’ current squad, claiming the team lacks strong reference points. “They’ve hired a top-level coach; now they need top-level players. Nobody can perform miracles. Juventus have many good players, but only good ones. There are no true leaders – not Yildiz, Thuram, Vlahovic, Gatti, or Cambiaso. At least, not at an international level, where top players deliver consistent performances.”
On Spalletti’s early matches, Mauro offered a balanced view: “The first games were good, but not exciting. When, in the derby, your goalkeeper is the best player on the pitch, something isn’t right. I understand the challenges Spalletti faces in meeting fans’ expectations – it’s no easy task.”
Criticism Over Transfers and Youth Development
Mauro also questioned the club’s decisions in the transfer market and its treatment of young Italian players. “Juventus is no longer a point of reference for Italy’s best players, and that must change. They have an excellent academy but have lost talents once they developed. Marchisio played his entire career for Juventus, but players like Fagioli, Kean, and Rovella were let go. Looking at the current squad, that doesn’t seem very wise. The club needs to rebuild such players, but it won’t be easy. Comolli, Chiellini, and the others have a very difficult job ahead.”
Regarding the new signings, Mauro was blunt: “They’re underperforming because they’re not stronger than those who were already in the team. They also arrived late, as did Comolli, who’s dealing with financial constraints. That’s why they’re struggling to find regular playing time – they don’t change much. Openda isn’t better than Yildiz or Vlahovic. Joao Mario isn’t better than the full-backs we already have. Zhegrova is just a version of Conceição, better or worse depending on the day. As for David, his CV looked promising, but fans haven’t seen anything from him yet.”
