Juventus’ final pre-season outing has reopened an important discussion inside the club: the future of the goalkeeper position.
After a largely positive pre-season campaign, during which the Bianconeri had kept clean sheets in all of their previous preparation matches, Michele Di Gregorio’s performance in the 2-1 Derby d’Italia defeat to Inter has once again raised concerns within the Juventus coaching staff and hierarchy.
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The biggest issue came with Inter’s second goal. Di Gregorio failed to keep out a relatively tame effort from Diouf, producing an awkward intervention that allowed Cristian Chivu’s side to double their advantage.
It was a costly mistake and one that has once again brought questions over whether the former Monza goalkeeper can truly be trusted as Juventus’ first-choice option.
Spalletti Still Wants a New Goalkeeper
Di Gregorio’s latest error is particularly significant because concerns over his consistency are not new.
His characteristics have reportedly not completely convinced new Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti, who has been asking the club since the beginning of the transfer window to strengthen the goalkeeper position.
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Spalletti wants a goalkeeper who can provide greater reliability while also fitting more naturally into his tactical approach and the demands of his playing style.
Juventus have therefore continued to monitor the market, although no agreement for a new goalkeeper has been reached so far.
Interestingly, while Juventus have yet to unlock their preferred solution on the incoming market, movement is now beginning around Di Gregorio himself.
According to reports from Giovanni Albanese, interest in the 1997-born goalkeeper is starting to emerge, with clubs from the Premier League and other major European leagues keeping tabs on his situation.
Marseille and Valencia Make Contact
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Marseille and Valencia have both made initial enquiries about Di Gregorio in recent hours and days. Neither approach has yet developed into a concrete offer, but Juventus are prepared to listen.
The Bianconeri are reportedly open to evaluating proposals for the goalkeeper and have placed him among the players who could leave the club this summer if suitable conditions are presented.
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For Juventus, the situation could therefore become increasingly interesting. If concrete offers arrive for Di Gregorio, the club could potentially accelerate its search for a new goalkeeper who better matches Spalletti’s requirements.
The Inter defeat may have only been a pre-season game, but Di Gregorio’s mistake has once again placed the goalkeeper position under the spotlight.
With the transfer window entering a decisive stage, Juventus could soon be forced to make a major decision between continuing with their current No. 1 or finally making a change.