The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Juventus

  • Juventus sack manager Tudor after seven months

    Juventus sack manager Tudor after seven months

    Juventus have sacked manager Igor Tudor following the side’s defeat by Lazio.

    The Croatian joined the Italian club in March as Thiago Motta’s replacement.

    But the 43-year-old has overseen an eight-match winless run, which has left the club eighth in the Serie A table.

    Defeat against Lazio on Sunday was the side’s third consecutive loss in all competitions.

    “The club thanks Igor Tudor and his entire staff for their professionalism and dedication over the past few months and wishes them all the best for their future careers,” a Juventus statement read.

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    Juventus added that Massimiliano Brambilla will take charge of the side for their Serie A fixture against Udinese on Wednesday (17:30 GMT).

    The Old Lady are six points behind leaders Napoli, and have failed to win in their last five league matches.

    Juventus are 25th in the Champions League group stage table, having lost once and drawn twice in their opening three matches.

    BBC

  • Juventus sign Nigerian prodigy Okoro

    Juventus sign Nigerian prodigy Okoro

    With a statement on the official website, Serie A giants Juventus have confirmed the signing of Italian-born Nigerian striker Alvin Okoro.

    The deal has been completed after the player passed a routine medical examination this week.

    Juventus and Venezia have reached a club-to-club agreement for Okoro to spend the entire 2025–2026 season on loan with the Bianconeri, with an option to buy included in the deal.

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    Having arrived at Venezia in 2022, Okoro made his mark with the Primavera side, netting 20 goals and supplying three assists in 61 outings.

    He spent the 2024-2025 season on loan at Vis Pesaro, where he featured 36 times across league and cup competitions, registering six goals and four assists.

  • Juventus plot Osimhen’s , Conte’s transfer coup

    Juventus plot Osimhen’s , Conte’s transfer coup

    Italian football’s Old Lady, Juventus, are reportedly  plotting an audacious move  that could see  Victor Osimhen  and  Napoli’s  coach, Antonio Conte, joining  Juventus  in the summer.

    Incidentally, it was at the  instance  of Conte  that Osimhen  was farmed out on loan  to Galatasaray  where he has been in sensational  scoring  to land the  red & gold a Turkish double.

    But according to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus are poised to push hard to sign Osimhen from Napoli, with the Serie A giants ready to make a “maximum” bid for the Nigeria international striker.

    Juve do not have the luxury of being able to trigger the striker’s release clause, which is worth €75 million. This is only valid for foreign clubs, such as Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United.

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    As such, the Bianconeri are ready to offer up to €85m. It is stated that €75m of this will be an upfront fee with €10m following as bonuses.

    Incidentally, Osimhen isn’t the only Napoli star that Juventus want; they also want head coach Antonio Conte in their dugout next season, according to Alfredo Pedulla.

    Juve will hold an internal meeting at the beginning of June to decide whether to persist with Tudor or target Conte.

    The Turin club are willing to push for both the coach and the player, with Max Allegri likeliest to replace the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss at Napoli should he depart.

  • Juventus eye Osimhen

    Juventus eye Osimhen

    Italian top side could sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen if Dusan Vlahovic decides to leave them next summer, Soccernet.ng reports.

    Osimhen has produced eight goals and four assists in nine games for Galatasaray. And this has fueled rumors that the club want to sign him permanently. However, it is unlikely, due to the toll it would take on Galatasaray’s finances.

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    According to a recent report from Nicolo Schira, the Nigerian striker may just return to the Serie A next summer. This is as Juventus are monitoring his situation with Napoli. The Old Lady may lose Vlahovic, as he has refused to pen an extension even though his current deal expires in 2026.

  • Juventus terminate Pogba’s contract

    Juventus terminate Pogba’s contract

    Juventus announced on Friday that they have mutually agreed with Paul Pogba to terminate his contract, effective November 30, 2024.

    The decision comes as the French midfielder prepares to resume his career following a doping suspension.

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    In an official statement, the Serie A club confirmed that both parties reached an agreement for the early termination of the contract, marking the end of Pogba’s current tenure with the club.

    The move comes as Pogba looks to return to competitive action after serving his ban.

  • Juventus cruise to UCL win over PSV

    Juventus cruise to UCL win over PSV

    Juventus started their Champions League campaign with a comfortable victory over PSV Eindhoven at Allianz Stadium.

    Kenan Yildiz gave Thiago Motta’s side the lead in brilliant fashion in the 21st  minute with a powerful, curling effort that flew in off the post.

    The 19-year-old’s strike means he has replaced Juventus legend Alessandro del Piero as the club’s youngest goalscorer in Europe’s elite competition.

    Buoyed by Yildiz’s goal, Juve pushed forward and added a second goal six minutes later through former Leeds midfielder Weston McKennie.

    The United States international slotted beyond PSV goalkeeper Joel Drommel with a first-time finish from seven yards out.

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    Six minutes into the second half, Dusan Vlahovic guided a beautiful pass across the box to find Nicolas Gonzalez.

    The Argentine took one touch to set himself before firing beyond Drommel to score his first for Motta’s side to make it 3-0.

    With the last kick of the game, Ismael Saibari netted a consolation for the Dutch Eredivisie champions after being found by a fine pass from Johan Bakayoko.

    Juventus travel to Germany next to take on RB Leipzig, while PSV welcome Sporting Lisbon to Philips Stadion.

  • Chiellini returns to Juventus in diplomatic role

    Chiellini returns to Juventus in diplomatic role

     Former Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has returned to the Italian club in an executive role focusing on relations with national and international football institutions, the Serie A side said on Sunday.

    “Chiellini never truly left the Bianconeri – his heart, soul and values have always remained connected to the club, both on and off the field. As of September 16, he will serve as Head of Football Institutional Relations,” the club said in a statement.

    Chiellini represented Italy 117 times and captained them to the Euro 2020 title, when they beat England on penalties in the final at Wembley.

    He spent most of his club career at Juventus, helping them win nine consecutive Serie A titles, five Coppa Italia trophies and five domestic Supercups. He also has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Turin.

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    “His academic background complements his experience as a player, captain and Juventus legend,” the club said.

    Chiellini retired from professional football in December before taking on the role of player development coach at Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC, the club he joined in 2022 after leaving Juve.

  • Juventus, Napoli and Milan join race for Boniface

    Juventus, Napoli and Milan join race for Boniface

    *Nigerian ace grabbed 16th season’s goal

    Victor Boniface continues to shine for Bayer Leverkusen, as Juventus, Milan and Napoli battle for his €40m signature next summer.

    The Nigeria international will turn 23 on Saturday and is having a remarkable campaign in Germany, scoring 15 goals in 22 competitive games, along with eight assists.

    That includes four goals in just five Europa League matches.

    He was purchased from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in July for €20.5m and his price-tag has already comfortably doubled in just six months.

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    The Corriere di Torino suggested that Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli is working on a swoop for next summer at circa €40m.

    Meanwhile, Tuttomercatoweb insisted that Napoli see Boniface as the ideal heir to his fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen, should someone pay the €140m release clause for the Capocannoniere.

    Milan have long been linked with both Boniface and LOSC striker Jonathan David to bolster their attack next season, with Olivier Giroud approaching retirement age.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria international yesterday scored his 10th Bundesliga goal of the season and 16th in all competitions as he grabbed a goal in Leverkusen’s 4-0 win against Bochum.

    Having watched from the bench as Patrik Schick tore Bochum to pieces in the first half, Boniface pounced within two minutes of entering the pitch – latching on to a Wirtz through ball and bashing the ball into and past Riemann.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo announces return from injury with a goal

    Cristiano Ronaldo announced his return from injury with a goal on Saturday as Juventus extended their unbeaten streak in the league under new boss Maurizio Sarri after edging past SPAL at the Allianz Stadium.

    Miralem Pjanic’s superb strike just moments before the half-time break had opened the reigning champions’ account.

    The Bosnian star had been teed up by Sami Khedira on the edge of the penalty area, and dispatched beyond Erit Berisha with a sumptuous effort.

    Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo went close in the second half to doubling Juventus’ lead, but found Berisha in inspired form for the visitors.

    Miralem Pjanic fired home a superb strike

    However, the latter finally netted Juventus’ second following an assist from the Argentine. Dybala whipped an inviting delivery into the box which was met by a towering header from Ronaldo, who converted into the bottom right-hand corner.

    The tie was Ronaldo first outing for Juve since the controversial FIFA Best Footballer of the year award which was won by arch rival and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi. Though the former Real Madrid shunned making the award a major subject of discuss the award has however continued to generate reactions with many disagree with the result. World soccer ruling body FIFA has reportedly said the controversy will be investigated.

     

  • Old family video breaks emotional Cristiano Ronaldo

    At 34, Juventus  forward Cristiano Ronaldo is not only one of the best players in the world but indeed one of the most photographed and talked about celebrity. The story of his life and his soccer career has been told, published and re-published.

    No doubt he has seen several of his own pictures with friends, teammates, family members to mention just a few.

    The former Real Madrid ace was however seized with emotion seeing for the first time a video in which his late father spoke very well about his then 20 year old son.

    Ronaldo was reduced to tears after being shown footage of his late father expressing his pride at his achievements.

    The Juventus star was shown the clip of his father Jose Dinis Aveiro speaking about him on his doorstep, ahead of the Euro 2004 tournament held in Portugal.

    Ronaldo with late father Jose Dinis

    His father, an alcoholic and former soldier, would die of liver failure a year later at the age of 52, missing out on much of Ronaldo’s success and the birth of his four children.

    In tears, Ronaldo said during the hour-long interview with Piers Morgan:  ‘I never saw the video. I never saw that video. Unbelievable.’

    The Portugal international also revealed how facing a rape allegation left him feeling embarrassed in front of his girlfriend and children. Speaking about the accusation, he said: ‘It makes you feel so bad.’

    ‘One day I was at home in the living room with my girlfriend and then the news they speak about Cristiano Ronaldo, this and that,’ he said. ‘You listen to your kids coming down the stairs and you change the channel because I was embarrassed.

    American model Kathryn Mayorga claimed the football star raped her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009 but Ronaldo strongly denies the claims.

    Las Vegas authorities announced last month that there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Ronaldo.