Michel Platini, Juventus legend and former UEFA president, has spoken candidly about his relationship with the club and the current state of Italian football. Just weeks after being acquitted by the Federal Criminal Court’s extraordinary appeals chamber, Platini shared his thoughts in an interview with Tuttosport, making it clear that his chapter in football politics is closed. However, he left the door open to a possible future role at Juventus.
No Calls from Juventus, But a Lasting Honor
“I haven’t received any calls from the club, so for now I’m not thinking about it. I’ve realized that even the new pope is younger than me… In the past, l’Avvocato (Gianni Agnelli) had already asked me to stay at the club and work with him, but I said no because I wanted to return home to France. Then life took me elsewhere, first as a coach and then as UEFA president. I don’t know what the future holds, but it certainly honors me that after 40 years, the Juventus fans still think of me.”
Reflections on Juventus’ Current Season
Reflecting on Juventus’ recent season, Platini admitted he hasn’t followed the team closely: “I haven’t watched them much, I mostly just check the Serie A results. Since I’m no longer UEFA president, I’m a bit less interested in what happens in the rest of Europe. I’m happy that Juve managed to secure fourth place. As Trapattoni always used to say, ‘If you can’t beat your opponent, the important thing is not to lose.’ And that’s what the Bianconeri did: they didn’t win, but they earned a place in the Champions League. It’s a significant achievement for the club’s financial needs.”
The Challenge of Returning to Greatness
When asked about what it would take for Juventus to return to greatness, Platini was philosophical: “I wouldn’t know. In my time, Juve’s style was embodied by l’Avvocato Agnelli—a fantastic character, used to winning with class. Today, I don’t know what the predominant values are… Juve was at the top of Italy and Europe for many years, but football goes in cycles, you can’t win forever. If Tudor’s team finished fourth, it’s because they deserved that place. Now, returning to the highest competitive levels is more complicated: the Bosman ruling means the richest clubs can keep winning forever, since they can buy any players they want…”
Conte’s Influence and the Path Forward
On the topic of Antonio Conte, Platini was full of praise: “Antonio remains an important figure in the Juventus imagination. If he returned to Turin, it would be beautiful, considering what he achieved at Napoli. But I don’t want to interfere in the club’s plans. Right now, there’s Tudor, who is a very good coach. In any case, I think it’s not the managers who write the history of clubs, but the players. To start winning again, Juve needs to rely on strong profiles.”
