A choice that could change the face of Juventus: a meeting that could mark a decisive turning point is expected tomorrow or Friday. The name? The kind that weighs heavily, indeed
Nuovo allenatore Juve, giovedì l’incontro decisivo: il nome è di quelli pesanti (Foto: LaPresse) – serieanews.com
You may have happened to think, “Is this really Juventus?” Yes, the same question they have been asking themselves for weeks at the company. And the answer, it seems, is only one: no, this is not the Juve they expected. It is not the one Giuntoli and the club had envisioned when they staked everything on Thiago Motta, betting on his soccer made up of ideas, codified plays, and the enhancement of youth.
Because then it happens that in words everything sounds perfect, but on the field … the 0-4 with Atalanta weighs, and a lot. And it also weighs the elimination from the Coppa Italia against Empoli, stuff to crinkle your eyes and wonder if it’s all true. Then comes PSV Eindhoven, knocking you out of the Champions League, and the question from before comes back stronger: where did Juventus go?
The situation has reached a crossroads. Indeed, it can be said that Thiago Motta has already run out of excuses and, according to what has filtered out of Turin, also out of patience with the managers. Until recently there were those, like Cristiano Giuntoli, who were trying to protect him. To shield him, as they say in these cases. But now, even the sporting director who had strongly wanted him, seems to have distanced himself.
And while the project for next season is moving forward, there are those who go further: they consider changing the bench immediately, without waiting for the summer. A decision that until a few weeks ago seemed impossible, but you know: in soccer it takes little to turn everything upside down.
Many names have been floated these days for the Bianconeri bench. Antonio Conte continues to stir the dreams of a part of the fans, Roberto De Zerbi is always in orbit but complicated to reach now. Bridging solutions are also popping up, such as Igor Tudor or Francesco Magnanelli. And then there is the influential candidacy of Stefano Pioli, who remains in the running for the future as well.
La Juventus incontra Roberto Mancini: venerdì l’appuntamento decisivo
But in these hours there is one that is gaining momentum. One of those that, just by uttering it, forces you to stop for a second. And here comes the bombshell: according to rumors learned by our editorial staff, on Friday, or even tomorrow, Juventus will meet Roberto Mancini.
La Juventus incontra Roberto Mancini: venerdì l’appuntamento decisivo (AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
Yes, that’s right. The coach who took Italy to the roof of Europe in 2021, and who is now pawing his way back to feeling like a protagonist after his, let’s face it, uninspiring experience in Saudi Arabia. Mancini has a past as a Juventus fan, he himself recounted: as a child he dreamed of Roberto Bettega, and now he could sit on the bench that was once Lippi and Trapattoni’s.
We need to be clear about this: it is an exploratory meeting, nothing is definite yet, and it certainly won’t be until we see each other. There has already been a phone call where mutual approval was expressed, but Thursday’s meeting will be the moment of truth. Then it will be up to Juventus to decide whether to shed its skin right away or wait.
But the chances of Roberto Mancini becoming Juve’s coach right away are very real, especially if the situation with Motta goes downhill. He is not the only name on the list, so other candidates still remain standing, but after tomorrow’s meeting he could definitely be the one with the most credibility.
What seeps out is that he will show up at the meeting with Elkann and Giuntoli loaded with ideas and with a plan to revive the team immediately. Not only to save the season, but to turn it into a springboard. Because there are still many games ahead, the Champions League to be secured and the Club World Cup to be faced. And Mancini is convinced that he can make an impact, right away, and the fact that he is a totem of the historic rival Bianconeri does not seem to be a problem.
200 – Simone #Inzaghi is the 5th coach to reach the milestone of 200 games as #Inter manager in all competitions (since 1929/30), after Helenio Herrera (368), Roberto Mancini (303) Giovanni Trapattoni (233) and Eugenio Bersellini (207). Olympus.#UCL #InterFeyenoord pic.twitter.com/PxsA5x9lMS
– OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 11, 2025
And here we come to the point. Thiago Motta’s fate seems to be sealed. But at this point, instead of relying on a ferryman and risking losing even fourth place, Juventus might decide to go straight for Mancini. A coach who knows pressure, who knows how to manage the locker room and who has the right charisma to hold up a square that no longer admits of missteps.
The time for betting is over; a heavy profile is needed. And Roberto Mancini certainly is one.
This article New Juve coach, decisive meeting Thursday: name is heavy – EXCLUSIVE appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
