Joao Mario and Jonathan David | What they bring to Igor Tudor's Juventus | OneFootball

Joao Mario and Jonathan David: “JJ” for another J, that of Juventus. Igor Tudor is tasked with getting the best out of these new signings, so here is a look at what they can bring to Juventus in 2025/26 and beyond.

THEIR CAREERS SO FAR

Joao Mario arrives in Turin after a career spent entirely with FC Porto. He followed all the stages of development from the academy to the B team, and then made his debut with the seniors at the age of 20.

In what was Sergio Conceicao's team, he was able to carve out his own space and make 181 appearances, scoring five goals in five seasons between all competitions. He has also made it into the Portuguese national team, for whom he made three appearances between 2023 and 2024. Joao Mario's list of achievements includes two Liga Portugal trophies won in 2020 and 2022.

Born in Brooklyn (New York), Jonathan David took his first steps in football in Ottawa, Canada. Arriving in Europe in 2018 with Gent, he soon got used to the rhythms of the continent, immediately establishing himself as one of the most interesting developing strikers on the scene.

In two years in Belgium, he scored a total of 37 goals and, at just 20 years of age, became the object of desire of many big European teams. The rise continued at French side Lille, where he scored 109 goals between 2020 and 2025, leaving no doubt as to the bright future that awaited him. He plays for the Canadian national team, of which he has been the attacking leader and driving force for several years now.

THE TECHNICAL PROFILES OF THE TWO NEW SIGNINGS

Joao Mario's characteristics make him something of an outlier in his position. In Serie A, we have become accustomed to seeing wide players with certain physiques, often part of a four-man defence. They do a lot of running, have great stamina and make overlapping runs in an attempt to stretch the opposition's defence.

With the former Porto player, it is his technical attributes with the ball that make him stand out. He is gifted at running with the ball, but he still stands at 178 cm and is quick at making decisions on the ball. In the 2024/25 Liga Portugal season, he was one of the best for passes and crosses in the final third of the field, and his ability to thread the ball behind the defence stands out as a quality to make use of at Juventus. Over the years, he has changed his position on the pitch: from being a right-back in a four-man defence, he has recently found himself moving up into the midfield, getting used to playing on the right of a five-man midfield.

Jonathan David has always been spoken of very highly, and it is easy to see why. Not only the goals, which have been plentiful and varied, but also the work as a centre-forward who is crucial to his team’s system. He arrives in Serie A as the prototype of a modern centre forward. He is not an old-fashioned penalty area battering ram, but at the same time he is very comfortable in the six-yard box. He likes to search for the ball in several areas of the pitch, and his dynamism often means that defences are torn apart by his movement. That, in turn, provides more space for his fellow attackers. He is capable of playing as a No.9, but he can also marry well with a less mobile striker. In short, he is a versatile forward with a lot to offer

WHERE THEY FIT IN IGOR TUDOR'S JUVE

With the right application and instructions, Joao Mario becomes a special weapon to be exploited. He fits like a glove on the right wing, and the three-man defence behind him provides security. He will certainly have to work to get used to the rigid tactical nature of the Italian league, but with coach Tudor, he will be certain of his role in the team. The Portuguese player can make an impact in both the defensive and attacking phases. His habit of dribbling should also be of enormous benefit to the forward players who will want to get up the pitch and fill the box as quickly as possible.

The opportunities for Jonathan David are varied. As already mentioned, the malleability in the player gives the coach the opportunity to think of more options in terms of line-ups and attacking connections. Looking at the statistics, the goal for the Canadian could also be to disrupt the opposition’s attack-building when Juventus do not have the ball. In the modern game, centre-backs are expected to build attacking moves, but by being as disruptive as possible, David could create goalscoring opportunities for himself.