Luciano Spalletti has spoken positively about the recent additions to the Juventus squad, emphasizing the impact of new signings Kerim Alajbegovic and Randal Kolo Muani. Spalletti noted that both players arrive in Turin with significant enthusiasm, a quality he considers a major advantage for the team as they look to strengthen their roster.
The arrival of Alajbegovic, a talent from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is particularly notable as he joined Juventus after turning down interest from Chelsea. The two clubs are scheduled to face each other in a pre-season friendly this Wednesday, a match that Spalletti acknowledged could be an awkward encounter given how close the player was to moving to London. According to the coach, the deciding factor was that Juventus could offer the young player a more prominent role from the start of his tenure, whereas he would have had to compete heavily for playing time at Chelsea.
Spalletti credited the work of director Frederic Massara, who joined the club this summer after previously serving as the director of sport at Roma. The coach revealed that the club had been tracking Alajbegovic since last season and were eager to secure his services. Regarding Randal Kolo Muani, who returns to the club following an initial loan spell in January 2025, Spalletti noted that the player is already well-integrated with his teammates. He mentioned that the dressing room views Kolo Muani as an exceptional person, and the staff is well aware of his capabilities on the pitch.
Despite these additions, Juventus remains active in the transfer market. Spalletti confirmed that the club is still seeking to sign another striker, a defender, and a goalkeeper, expressing full faith in the directors to finalize these moves. Addressing concerns regarding Kenan Yildiz, who struggled with a recurring knee injury last season, Spalletti stated that the medical team is evaluating his fitness. He expects Yildiz to potentially see a few minutes of action against Chelsea, noting that his recovery progress is currently in line with initial expectations.
“Everyone in the dressing room told me he was an exceptional young man, while we all know what we can do as a player on the field.”
