On his first day as Juventus’ new Chief Executive Officer, Damien Comolli spoke (as quoted by ilbianconero) to the media at the Allianz Stadium, outlining his vision for the club’s future — a future built on passion, success, and sustainability.
“I want to thank John Elkann for the opportunity to manage this club. It is an immense privilege and honour to stand here before you as CEO,” Comolli began. “I also feel humble facing this challenge because I’m a passionate supporter myself. I know what Juventus means to Italian and international football, the scale of this club and its reputation. We met the staff this morning, and the only thing we want is to get back to winning.”
Building the Right Team
Since joining Juventus in June, Comolli has been evaluating the club’s internal structure. “We need the right people in the right place, with the right culture,” he said. “We’re obsessed with finding experts for every department. We believe in those who have joined and those who were already here. Our obsession is always to improve and to win. We are Juventus — our incredible history leaves no alternative.”
Expanding the Business and Global Reach
Comolli praised the club’s media and sponsorship strength. “We have a fantastic community of sponsors, followers, and media partners. The numbers on TikTok and Instagram are exceptional,” he explained. “The Creator Lab allows us to connect directly with our fans in Italy and abroad. Within our leadership team, we’re focused on improving the fan experience and modernising the stadium further. Years ago, Andrea Agnelli said every club in Italy should have an exceptional stadium — and he was right. We want ours to remain the model for Italian football.”
Belief in the Squad
Speaking about manager Luciano Spalletti, Comolli expressed great admiration: “We’re very happy with Spalletti — a creative, brave mind in football. He’s not afraid to try things, like moving Koopmeiners into defence. He has brought something new, and I’m pleased he’s with us. We believe in this squad, one of the youngest in Serie A, balancing great talents with experienced leaders.”
He added, “When I was younger, Juventus was a model for European football. Players like Platini, the Tokyo Cup in ’95 — my respect and passion for this club are enormous. The potential here is limitless.”
Investing in Future Generations
Comolli also reaffirmed Juventus’ long-term commitment to the Academy. “We’re focused on developing our young stars — Italian and international. The Academy must be central to our future. Without a high-performing Academy, it will be difficult to compete in Europe.”
January Market and Financial Focus
Addressing the upcoming transfer window, Comolli cautioned: “Financial Fair Play imposes constraints. What we do in January will be very challenging and closely monitored by UEFA. We have no special plans.”
On financial sustainability, he said, “My predecessor Maurizio did exceptional work. Our goal is to make the club self-sustainable. I told John [Elkann] that my goal is to win — and his goal is to stop injecting money. But above all, winning remains the priority.”
Diversifying Revenue Streams
“Our ambition is to host at least ten concerts a year during the off-season,” Comolli revealed. “We’ve worked to make the stadium compatible with large events — concerts, rugby matches, corporate hospitality. Juventus is unique; few clubs can do what we do. We must use every resource we have to generate new revenue streams.”
Competitiveness and Leadership
“There’s a pessimistic and an optimistic view,” he admitted. “Clubs with less than €700–800 million in revenue rarely win the Champions League, but we take an optimistic approach. Our first goal is to dominate Serie A, then Europe.”
When asked about his leadership style, he replied, “Good leaders are authentic and genuine. I don’t know if there’s a ‘Comolli factor’, but I’ll try to unite people. I always say I want to be the least intelligent person in the room — that’s how you surround yourself with smart people.”
The Missing Piece and Italian Football
Juventus are still seeking a new sporting director. “It’s the missing link in our leadership team,” Comolli confirmed. “We’re actively interviewing candidates. John told me during the summer: ‘How do we attract talent?’ I said — it’s Juventus. That’s how.”
He also spoke about Italian football’s state: “Italian football has great assets — passion, community, and spirit. But stadiums remain the main issue. If there were ten stadiums like ours, the situation would be different.”
The Ultimate Goal
Comolli closed his remarks with clarity and conviction: “Winning. I can’t think about anything else. I told the staff this morning — every day, I wake up thinking how I, and all of us, can make this club win again. I’m obsessed with victory. At Juventus, you always think about winning.”
