Giovanni Carnevali spoke openly about Juventus’ present and future. The Bianconeri’s General Director and CEO was a guest at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, where, during the “La Juventus nel destino” event, he discussed his arrival in Turin, John Elkann, Luciano Spalletti, Antonio Conte, the transfer strategy and the direction in which he wants to lead Juventus.
One message was particularly clear: Juventus must rebuild stability, but the ultimate goal remains the same.
CARNEVALI: “THE GOAL? TO WIN”
Speaking about the club’s ambitions, Carnevali did not complicate his answer:
“The goal? To win.”
His idea is for Juventus to build a project that does not depend on constant changes, but on clear planning and the gradual construction of a team capable of competing for the biggest trophies again.
ELKANN: ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IS PROOF OF FAITH IN JUVENTUS
Carnevali spoke particularly about John Elkann, whom he spoke with shortly before going on stage in Trento.
The Juventus director described him as an exceptional person and stressed that he had not previously had the opportunity to know him well. Frequent conversations after his arrival at Juventus allowed him, as he says, to understand his strength and attachment to the club.
As the most concrete proof, he pointed to the new financial investment made by the owner, assessing that it shows how much Elkann believes in Juventus. Carnevali believes that everyone inside the club must therefore give something extra.
SPALLETTI: “HE TEACHES FOOTBALL”
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation concerned Luciano Spalletti.
Throughout his career, Carnevali has worked with a large number of coaches, but he particularly highlighted the expertise of the current Juventus manager.
“Luciano is capable, he teaches football.”
Carnevali believes that Italian football needs coaches of that profile and particularly appreciates the intensity and quality of the work Spalletti demonstrates in training.
His support for the coach comes after he had already publicly stated in mid-September that changing coaches is not part of his way of working and that Juventus must plan, build and have patience.
CONTE? “HE WAS NEVER OUR IDEA”
Carnevali also touched on a subject that has once again attracted considerable attention – Antonio Conte.
After the defeat to Sassuolo, reports emerged about a possible return of the former Juventus coach, but Carnevali now very clearly described the position of the current management.
“Conte is a friend and a top coach, but he was never our idea.”
In other words, Carnevali praised Conte as a coach, while at the same time rejecting the idea that the current Juventus management had considered his return as a replacement for Spalletti.
JUVENTUS WANT MORE YOUNG ITALIAN PLAYERS
One of the more important parts of the future strategy concerns the composition of the squad.
Carnevali wants Juventus to once again have a larger number of Italian footballers, especially young players with the potential to become key figures for the team.
The problem is the market: finding a young Italian who simultaneously possesses the quality required for Juventus is not easy. For that reason, the club will not sign players simply because of their passport, but will look for a combination of quality, potential and a sustainable price.
NEW TRANSFER PHILOSOPHY: FIND THE PLAYER BEFORE HE IS WORTH €70–80 MILLION
Carnevali also spoke openly about the economic limitations.
Juventus currently cannot simply enter the market and compete for every established footballer. For this reason, the club wants to be more creative and identify a major talent before his market value explodes.
The idea is to find a footballer while he is still financially affordable, develop him in Turin and have a player who could later reach a value of €70 or €80 million.
That is one of the key principles on which Carnevali wants to base Juventus’ future transfer windows.
ALAJBEGOVIĆ – CHELSEA COULD HAVE RUINED THE DEAL
Carnevali also revealed an interesting background story regarding the transfer of Kerim Alajbegović.
Juventus risked losing the young footballer because Chelsea became involved in the deal and offered better financial terms.
Despite that, the Bianconeri managed to complete the operation. This type of transfer fits precisely into the strategy Carnevali described – identifying a promising player before his value reaches a level that Juventus would struggle to match.
DOES JUVENTUS HAVE TO SELL A BIG PLAYER?
One of the most sensitive questions concerned the possibility of a major sale next summer.
Carnevali did not categorically rule out that possibility. Financial limitations exist and the club must respect them, but Juventus also have players out on loan whose transfers could generate significant income.
Therefore, the decision regarding a possible sale of one of the most valuable players will not be made in advance – it will depend on results, revenue and the development of the market.
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS KEY TO THE FUTURE
Returning to the Champions League has enormous importance, not only for sporting reasons.
Carnevali stressed how much missing out on Europe’s elite competition affects the club’s revenues. For Juventus, therefore, qualification for the Champions League is one of the key steps towards greater financial stability and greater freedom in the transfer market.
Sport and finances in today’s Juventus are directly connected: better results bring greater revenues, while greater revenues allow for a more ambitious approach to the market.
THE DEFEAT TO SASSUOLO STILL HURTS
Carnevali also reflected on the painful defeat against his former club.
Immediately after the match, he had already criticised the mistakes Juventus made that a team of this level should not be making, but he insisted that responsibility does not lie only with the defence. At the time, he described the defeat as part of a process from which the team must learn.
The message from Trento remained the same: Juventus must learn to control matches and must not allow situations that are not in keeping with the club’s standards.
CARNEVALI’S PLAN FOR THE NEW JUVENTUS
From his appearance in Trento, the direction of the new management is clear: continuity with Spalletti, greater reliance on young players, an attempt to restore a stronger Italian identity to the squad, smarter investment in the market and financial discipline.
And above all, there is what Carnevali himself reduced to one word:
“Winning.”
Sources: La Gazzetta dello Sport / Festival dello Sport / JuventusNews24 / BianconeraNews.
