28 August 2026
The Men's First Team face Parma at the Allianz Stadium in their second game of the 2026/27 Serie A season, with kick-off set for 20:45 CEST on Saturday, August 29.
Luciano Spalletti spoke to the press ahead of the match.
THE SQUAD'S CONDITION
“[Kenan] Yildiz is unavailable, and [Weston] McKennie will be out too due to fatigue. [Khephren] Thuram has a niggle that’s bothering him a bit, and we’ll assess him tomorrow morning, whilst the others are all available. I’m concerned about Thuram because he’s at Juventus' level, and the fact that he has to take a step back worries me. We have several options to replace Yildiz: [Kerim] Alajbegovic is used to playing in that position, Nico Gonzalez delivers whatever you ask of him wherever you put him, and [Jonathan] David can also play behind the striker. We’ll stick to the same approach to the game, and it will be crucial to find balance during the match.”
KOLO MUANI
“We have complete faith in [Randal] Kolo Muani’s quality. We went out and signed him, he was a hugely important investment and we want to put him in a position where he can repay the faith we’ve placed in him. He’s brilliant at making runs, once he gets going, it’s hard to catch him. He’s skilful on the ball, knows how to link up with the team, gets into the middle of the pitch and beats his man. He hasn’t played a great deal recently and needs to get back to his best, but I’ll go one step further: I’m pleased with him and he’ll become a top-class player for us. He needs to be determined to become a proper goalscorer, because he has everything it takes.”
ALAJBEGOVIC AND LUCUMi
“Alajbegovic is a 19-year-old, he’s got quality and is raring to show off his full potential. He’s been welcomed into the squad and I’m convinced he’ll showcase his skills. He’s got class, a good touch, and when he shoots at goal, he unleashes thunderbolts with both feet. [Jhon] Lucumi’s integration is going very well. He’s a strong player and has also shown that he fits in brilliantly within the squad. He’s ready to play, but [Lloyd] Kelly did very well against Frosinone, so we’re in no rush. [Zeki] Celik is also a reliable option, he pays attention to every detail of what he does. The club has done a tremendous job.”
KESSIE'S POTENTIAL AND NICO GONZALEZ'S RETURN
“Our directors are working on it and will keep at it right up to the last minute to finalise the squad. I think they’re in talks with [Franck] Kessie, we’ll have to see if it works out, because the Financial Fair Play restrictions are quite strict for us. Kessie could be a possibility, but without players leaving, it becomes impossible to bring in new ones. As for Nico Gonzalez, we’d be happy if he stays with us and we’re not prepared to let him go for free because he’s a valuable player. He fits in well with the whole team and can play in several positions. It’s vital for us to raise our standards, and the club has done so, because we need to be on a par with Juventus.”
PLAYING AS JUVENTUS
“We don’t play against this or that opponent, we play every match as Juventus. We need to get into the opposition’s half, because that’s our territory to conquer. We need to get deep and beyond the defensive line. Parma always find a way, up front they have [El Bilal] Toure's pace, as well as players like [Adrian] Bernabe and [Emmanuele] Valeri. We need to be careful, maintain balance but at the same time play attacking football. We did well against Frosinone, even if we should have sealed the win sooner. I’d be very happy if we could play like that against Parma too.”
GRABARA'S ARRIVAL
“I’d like to congratulate the club. We’ve signed a second top-class goalkeeper for Juventus. What strikes me about [Kamil] Grabara is his natural and fluid style – almost like a footballer in goal. He has this dual quality, just like [Guglielmo] Vicario, of course. Following the departure of two goalkeepers, bringing in two more of this calibre has been a great achievement by the club and the owners.”
