Giuntoli says Juventus didn’t give Luiz and Gonzalez enough time | OneFootball

Cristiano Giuntoli was in charge of transfers as Juventus’ sporting director when they signed the likes of Nicolas Gonzalez, Khephren Thuram and Teun Koopmeiners in the summer of 2024.

He had joined the club from Napoli after winning the Serie A title there in the summer of 2023, and Juve were confident that he could help solve some of the long standing problems they had experienced. The club gave him significant backing in the transfer market as they looked to strengthen their squad.

Giuntoli did well in adding some top players to the group, but most of his new signings struggled during their first season. Juve did not meet expectations, and the results meant there was significant disappointment surrounding the players brought in during his time in charge.

Giuntoli reflects on Juventus signings

At the end of the campaign, Juventus opted not to continue with Giuntoli as their sporting director. He subsequently resumed that role at Atalanta this season, while the Bianconeri continued their efforts to build a stronger squad and remain among the top clubs in the country.

Juventus will continue to do their best to sign good players, but Giuntoli has defended the decisions he made during his time at the club. His comments come as Douglas Luiz and Gonzalez begin to show that they can be important players within the group.

(Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Young players need time

Giuntoli believes players should be given sufficient time to demonstrate their quality, particularly when they are young. He suggested that the performances of some of his former signings now provide evidence of the ability they possess, as quoted by Football Italia.

“Players are often not given enough time to express themselves, especially when they are young. I’m glad they are finally showing their quality. As I repeat, my mind is on Atalanta and taking this club back to where it belongs.”

His comments underline his belief that some players needed more time to adapt and demonstrate their abilities at Juventus. While his time at the Bianconeri has ended, the development of players such as Luiz and Gonzalez could offer support for his defence of the signings he made.

For Juventus, the focus remains on building their squad and making the right additions as they continue to compete at the highest level in Italy.