Giuntoli knew it was over, but still tried to leave one last impression. A different name for the bench, an idea that convinced no one. The rest is a Juve that has already moved on.
Juve, il colpo di coda di Giuntoli: il retroscena prima dell’addio (AnsaFoto) – serieanews.com
The separation between Juventus and Cristiano Giuntoli was not a peaceful one. Nor mutual. Nor was it diplomatic. Those who recounted it closely speak of a rather tense meeting with John Elkann, who not only communicated the exoneration, but also dismissed the executive sharply, without mincing words.
The agreement to terminate the contract then was found. But Giuntoli, in these months, did not live well. He was poised between a downward confirmation, with less power and space, and a permanent exit. In the end, this is what happened. Dismissed without much preamble by the club’s top brass.
The handover had begun long ago. One only had to look at the negotiations to realize this. It was no longer Giuntoli’s Juve. It was already something new, something in which he was no longer involved. The moves started from other desks, other phones, other messages. And indeed, in his place came Damien Comolli. Someone used to making decisions, not playing second fiddle. With him will be Giorgio Chiellini, who had long ago been identified as an expendable face for the technical and identity reconstruction of the club.
The choice of Antonio Conte was a watershed. But also a signal. A coach chosen by the ownership, not by Giuntoli. Conte represented a clean break with Giuntoli, as we told you. A tactical and character idea that had nothing to do with that of Thiago Motta, who instead was the man chosen and followed by Giuntoli, until the very end.
Gasperini, l’ultimo tentativo di Giuntoli alla Juve
And right up to the last, the now former executive tried to have his say. To relaunch. To leave at least an idea, an imprint, a shot in the arm. The name he tried to push was that of Gian Piero Gasperini.
Gasperini, l’ultimo tentativo di Giuntoli alla Juve (LaPresse) – serieanews.com
Gasperini was not just an alternative plan. In fact, for Giuntoli, Gasperini was the right name regardless. The one who could have reconciled grit, discipline and also a less rigid, more modern idea of the game. Gasperini is a rough technician, yes. But he also brings with him an idea of vertical, offensive, engaging soccer. A soccer that could have been the real turning point, if only there had been the will to build something from there.
Instead, no. The ownership had already chosen its path. It first flirted with Conte, then was left holding the bag. And ended up confirming Igor Tudor, first at the Club World Cup then who knows. By now, the chances are high that Tudor will turn from a ferryman into Juve’s next coach, so much more than a Plan C. In the end, then, no Gasperini, no Conte – who defected and accepted Napoli – and especially no Giuntoli.
An exit without ceremony, without public greetings, without a thank you. The new Juve will start again with other figures and another design. Giuntoli tried to the last to make sense of his Juventus season. But when you realize that the doors are already closing behind you, the only thing left to do is to leave.
This article Juve, Giuntoli’s tailspin: the backstory before the farewell appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
