Spalletti: ‘Juventus distant from Scudetto ambition, Celik shows strong club’ | OneFootball

Luciano Spalletti warns Juventus are ‘quite distant’ from being Scudetto contenders, but they are working on their ‘defects’ and welcome Zeki Celik. ‘This showed the club is strong.’

The Bianconeri begin their pre-season with a friendly test away to FC Basel on Saturday afternoon.

It has been a frustrating few weeks for the club, who missed out on Champions League qualification, then spent much of the summer with long negotiations for players like Randal Kolo Muani and Emiliano Martinez.

They did at least get a new reinforcement this morning, securing Zeki Celik as a free agent when he had seemed ready to sign a new Roma contract.

Spalletti sets targets for Juventus

UDINE, ITALY – MARCH 14: Luciano Spalletti, Juventus manager, reacts during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Juventus FC at Stadio Friuli on March 14, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

“I found the team aware of what we were unable to achieve last season, but equally aware of our capabilities and what we can do this term,” said Spalletti in his press conference.

“There have been quality performances to give us that believe, but at the same time also some performances below par. We’ve got to work on those defects.

“I too think about what I could’ve done better, and we all know that we need something different. It was a tough summer, because our results affect everything, including our personal lives.

“We are on the right track, but we’ve got to pick up the pace, because Juventus cannot be left behind.”

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It is probably no coincidence that several of the last Juve coaches, including Spalletti, have complained about the mentality and lack of leadership within the squad.

“I have to do better than in the past, because good examples must have evidence behind them, so I try to show that it’s not just words,” continued Spalletti.

“Our squad needs to be reinforced and, in some cases, completed. We all know that. We’ve got to do deep work on this team, but the timing might be difficult due to the World Cup. It’d be good to have the players here as soon as possible.”

The coach took over mid-season from Igor Tudor, who in turn the year before had replaced fired Thiago Motta, so consistency is an issue for the Old Lady.

“We didn’t achieve our result last season, but it wasn’t a campaign to throw away, as we also did a lot well. We’ve got to keep the same level of mentality, performance and quality all the way through.

“I am convinced that if we work the right way, we can compete to qualify for the Champions League. We want to challenge for the top of the table, to qualify for the Champions League, but when it comes to talking about the Scudetto, we’re quite distant from that target.”

There have been reports that Khephren Thuram is on the market, but also that his Juventus future depends on the state of his knee.

“At this moment, he is improving on the difficulties he had last season, but it’s a process.”

When it comes to reinforcements, Juventus have reportedly set the priorities as a goalkeeper and a centre-forward to replace free agent Dusan Vlahovic.

“There is work to be done, but I am confident it will be done. Our desire is to fill the gaps in this squad where players are missing, and we are all in sync on the direction to take,” added Spalletti.

“I did my job with Vlahovic, which was to evaluate his technical qualities, but the economic discussion is not my purview. I haven’t spoken to him since the season ended, but he knows my thoughts. Our directors always have the door open.”

Zeki Celik joins Juventus (Source: Juventus)

Juventus have already brought in two surprising reinforcements, Zeki Celik as a free agent from Roma, and Genoa striker Jeff Ekhator.

“Celik is a player with a warrior’s attitude, certainly reliable. Signing him was a good idea for Juventus, he’s experienced and will settle in easily. That showed the club is strong, because it can surprise at times,” continued the coach.

“Ekhator has strong potential, so both the club and directors did well to bring him here, because he has the characteristics of a complete striker. Naturally, he needs time and is still a rough diamond, but he’s so fired up that he stayed late after training.”

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Juventus FC head coach Luciano Spalletti looks on during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SS Lazio at Allianz Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Did Spalletti receive any guarantees from the Juventus directors on building his team?

“I always had a good rapport with every director I worked with in my career. I had some different viewpoints to some directors, but we are talking about players, not other directors.

“I have absolute faith in the directors, we need to complete the squad to have aspirations.”