Juventus plans for 2021-22 after the KO

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus' project for next season does not mean dispense with Andrea Pirlo as coach, but above all, and regardless of what happens with Cristiano Ronaldo, to continue rejuvenating the team, with the young people who They are already in the Turinese squad and reinforcements under the age of 25 that the club's economy can afford. The leadership of the ‘vecchia signora’ is already studying the future after the blow that led to the elimination in the second round of the Champions League on Tuesday against Porto (3-2 in the second leg for Juve, who lost 2-1 in the first leg).

This is what John Elkann, president and CEO of the Exor firm, controlled by the Agnelli family and Juventus shareholder, made clear on Thursday in the RAI Porta a Porta program. “Juventus has starred in a great decade, but now the time has come to rejuvenate it,” were the words of the manager.

Always according to the aforementioned newspaper, the future of Juventus depends on betting on young talents that the economy of the Turin club can afford, as he did when he signed two of the best U-23s in Italy Dejan Kulusevski (from the Parma) and Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), as well as by incorporating the American Weston McKennie (Schalke), whom he has just acquired.

Andrea Agnelli, president of Juventus and Elkann's cousin, confirmed Pirlo after Tuesday's painful elimination against Porto and, except for surprise, the legendary ex-midfielder will continue to lead the black-and-white team next season.

“When you build the future, you have to target young people, and this entails some adjustments. We are lucky. We have celebrated 9 'scudetti' in a row, beating the 5 that my grandfather (Gianni Agnelli) remembered. What we have achieved this decade is extraordinary, ”said John Elkann. Juventus is currently 3rd in Serie A, 10 points behind Inter.

Weston McKennie, after the elimination against Porto (Photo by Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images)
Weston McKennie, after the elimination against Porto (Photo by Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images)

There will be no revolution in Juventus. The Matthijs de Ligt, Federico Chiesa, Weston McKennie, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Merih Demiral or Arthur, none of whom have turned 25, or Adrien Rabiot (on April 3, 26) will be part of Juve's brain spine. who wants, always according to the Gazzetta, to contain expenses. Although perhaps not all will continue, especially Demiral, who can leave. In that group may be Nicolò Fagioli and Radu Dragusin, both from the subsidiary. Juve must decide on Álvaro Morata: whether to renew the loan for one year in exchange for 10 million euros, whether to sign him for 35 or to return to Atlético. The first option is the most feasible.

The reinforcements target players under the age of 25 that Juve can afford. One that sounds, although it would not be cheap, is Manuel Locatelli, who likes Pirlo. It will be crucial to know what happens with Cristiano Ronaldo, who at one point or another will talk about the future with his agent, Jorge Mendes, with Andrea Agnelli and Fabio Paratici. And the future of CR7, 36, is always decided by him.