Teun Koopmeiners’ first season at Juventus has been far from smooth sailing. The Dutch midfielder, acquired from Atalanta last summer for over €50 million after a protracted negotiation, was expected to be a key player for the Bianconeri. However, his performances have fallen short of the high standards he set during his time in Bergamo.
Calciomercato report how, despite the underwhelming start, Juventus remains committed to Koopmeiners’ long-term future at the club. Manager Thiago Motta is now experimenting with a bold new approach to revitalize the 27-year-old’s form: deploying him as a winger in attack.
Motta has been testing Koopmeiners in this wide role during recent training sessions, taking advantage of the player’s versatility. The first glimpse of this tactical shift came in the recent match against Atalanta, where Koopmeiners was introduced as a second-half substitute for Yildiz in a wide attacking position. While the experiment didn’t yield immediate success – Juventus suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at home – the coaching staff sees potential in this new role.
The upcoming away fixture against Fiorentina could provide Koopmeiners with his first start in this new position. If he impresses, it could open up a new tactical dimension for Juventus in the final months of the season. Koopmeiners would offer an alternative to established wingers like Yildiz, Gonzalez, Conceiçao, and Mbangula, with the versatile McKennie also capable of filling in wide roles when needed.
Juventus’ faith in Koopmeiners remains unwavering. The club is determined to help him rediscover the form that made him such a coveted asset at Atalanta. This positional experiment represents a creative attempt to unlock his potential and justify the significant investment made in his services.
