The bell has rung. After weeks of pre-season preparation, an Asian tour, a summer of extraordinary transfer activity, and a squad still finding its final shape, Luciano Spalletti stepped in front of the cameras on Saturday afternoon to introduce the competitive chapter everyone has been waiting for. His pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Serie A opener at Frosinone was one of the most complete and revealing he has given since arriving at the Continassa — by turns warm, sharp, funny, and absolute.
“The Bell Has Rung — Those Who Are Not Ready Will Be Pushed Towards the Exit”
Spalletti opened by paying genuine respect to Frosinone and their manager Alvini — a friend, he acknowledged, who has done outstanding work to return the Ciociaria club to the top flight. The tone then sharpened immediately. “The bell has rung. The championship has begun — and those who are not ready will be pushed towards the exit.” It is not a threat directed at individuals. It is the cultural temperature of a manager who knows that last season’s failure to qualify for the Champions League cannot be allowed to repeat itself, and who intends to make that clear from the very first competitive minute.
He then addressed whether this season will see a different Spalletti and a different Juventus: “Things that are new are many — it is the players who invent and create situations. There is always evolution. You have to be good at staying inside this continuous evolution. I always try to update myself. This year I want to send scouts to watch some Serie B coaches to learn new things. There are many good ones: Giampaolo, Corradi, Pagliuca, Galloppa. And there would be no conflict since it is a different division.”
“Good Transfer Market, But Not Everyone Starts From the Same Point”
On the summer’s incoming business, Spalletti was characteristically measured about the different stages of integration across the squad. “In general, a good transfer market has been done — but it does not start at an equal point for everyone. There are those who need only minor restoration and those who need a full rebuilding programme. It depends where you started and where you ended up. We are moving as well as we can relative to our initial situation, but there is still work to do and the directors are continuing to arrive early in the morning.”
His most vivid assessment was reserved for Alajbegovic: “They have been smart to go and sign some players of real potential — like Alajbegovic, who I can see is popular. He creates a temporal shock. He gives you a strong jolt and is good at making the play he thinks of — and then sees the next one beyond it too.”
“Yıldız? Offer Whatever You Want — I Want to Play Him Next Season. He Is Already at a Club That Offers €100 Million for Him”
The summer’s most explosive and definitive statement came when Spalletti was asked directly about Arsenal’s reported interest and the possibility of a €100 million offer for Kenan Yıldız. His answer was as close to an iron guarantee as a football manager ever gives. “I am relaxed — for me it is simple. They can offer whatever they want. I want to put Yıldız on the pitch next season. Yıldız is a boy you can have mature conversations with. He knows perfectly well that he should not rush anything. His future is already important here at Juventus. He is already at the club that offers €100 million for him. We are calm and hungry. And I think he also wants to show his full potential.”
It is, in the clearest possible language, a definitive closing of every door Arsenal or any other club has been attempting to push open. Yıldız is staying. The manager has spoken.
“Gap with Inter? Seven or Eight Teams Can Fight for the Top Four — Including Fiorentina”
On the competitive hierarchy for the coming season, Spalletti pushed back against any simplistic ranking that placed Juventus clearly second or third. “I don’t know whether the gap with Inter has closed — what I do know is that seven or eight teams can fight for the top four places, and I would include Fiorentina in that group. You have to show you are good. You have to become a team, find your equilibria, judge when to rest players, and use the full depth of the squad — which last season we did not do enough, for various reasons. I say we have improved. But it will be victories that tell us when we have improved. We won many games last year too. It is not guaranteed we will win them all again — but we need to win more in the league and in the Europa League.”
Vicario and Kolo Muani Start — Perin Stays for Now
The only genuine team news delivered in the press conference was delivered with refreshing directness: “Vicario and Kolo Muani will start from the first minute.” On the goalkeeping situation following Di Gregorio’s imminent departure and Perin’s anticipated move to Palermo: “No concern whatsoever. We have gone and signed Vicario, who we consider strong and experienced, with quality both in goal and out of it. He was a little short on group training time, which he completed this week. Perin comes on the bench and stays with us for as long as he is useful. I think he agrees too, given the seriousness he has always shown towards Juventus.”
On Milik — the “old hope” who has spent two years in rehabilitation: “He missed two-and-a-half training sessions this week — but he is an old hope of mine. Every time I have hoped for something from him, a little problem has come back. We make careful evaluations. Every now and again a small issue emerges, even if they have been fewer in this preparation since he has trained with continuity. We assess over the coming days.” It is the most affectionate expression of qualified confidence a manager can offer a player whose body has repeatedly let everyone down — including the player himself.
