Juventus, the Jonathan David saga: from transfer coup to luxury benchwarmer | OneFootball

Arriving as one of the major summer signings, the Canadian has played just 90 minutes in the last four matches. Tudor’s attacking hierarchy still appears to be evolving.

Juventus, the Jonathan David case: from market coup to luxury benchwarmer

When Juventus announced the arrival of Jonathan David from Lille, many considered him the real coup of the Bianconeri’s transfer window. A young striker, already mature, capable of playing both as a center forward and as a playmaker. Today, however, his situation in Turin is quite different from expectations: in the last four league games, he has totaled only 90 minutes, often relegated to the bench.

Against Atalanta, the Canadian didn’t even come on, not even after Bremer’s injury. Tudor explained in the press conference: “Bremer had a slight strain. It’s a shame we couldn’t use the last substitution with David.”

A substitution, then, that would have been limited to the final fifteen minutes and ultimately didn’t happen.

The Bianconeri’s attacking abundance

The real issue concerns squad management. Juve, partly due to some failed departures, now has a large and varied attack:

Wingers: Conceição, Zhegrova

Mobile forwards: Openda

Pure center forwards: Vlahovic

Playmakers: Yildiz

Versatile attackers: David, capable of moving between the attacking midfield and the box

An abundance that, while it guarantees rotation, also forces Tudor into tough choices.

Tudor’s system and the hierarchy

In the match against Atalanta, the Croatian coach opted for a mobile front three consisting of Adzic, Yildiz, and Openda, all players able to avoid giving clear points of reference. During the match, Vlahovic and Zhegrova then came on, maintaining the same tactical logic.

For David, the idea was for him to come on in the final minutes with Adzic dropping back into midfield to increase attacking thrust. But Bremer’s forced substitution changed the plans, bringing on Cabal, who, incidentally, scored the equalizer.

Jonathan David, what future in black and white?

It’s hard, at the moment, to consider the Canadian an undisputed starter. The feeling is that Tudor is still searching for the right formula for his attacking department, alternating characteristics and players depending on the opponents.

Jonathan David remains an important technical asset, and his qualities could soon become decisive again. However, the idea that he would be the fixed point of Juventus’ attack seems, at least for now, postponed.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.