Why Edon Zhegrova is not playing?

According to Il Bianconero, Juventus made headlines on the final day of the summer transfer window. The club secured two major attacking signings, aiming to strengthen Igor Tudor’s offensive options.

From RB Leipzig came Lois Openda, on loan with an obligation to buy. Meanwhile, Edon Zhegrova arrived from Lille on a permanent deal worth €19 million. Despite this exciting transfer, Zhegrova’s impact has been minimal so far.

Edon Zhegrova 📸

Since officially joining Juventus on September 1, the Kosovar winger has not started a single match. His debut came on September 17 against Borussia Dortmund, when Tudor sent him on for the final three minutes.

In that brief appearance, he initiated the move that led to Kelly’s late equalizer for a 4-4 draw. Zhegrova featured again against Verona, entering in the last seven minutes, but he had little chance to show his skill.

His most notable appearance came versus Atalanta, where he played 26 minutes and caused some trouble for the opposing defense. Those flashes gave hope that his playing time would increase, but progress soon stalled.

Fitness concerns and tactical choices

Edon Zhegrova 📸

In the next matches — against Villarreal in the Champions League and AC Milan in Serie A — Zhegrova stayed on the bench for the full 180 minutes. This was surprising, as his early cameos hinted at a possible starting debut.

However, Tudor seems cautious. Zhegrova joined Juventus after a long recovery period that kept him sidelined for nine months. He underwent surgery for a chronic groin issue that had affected him throughout the previous season at Lille. His last official match before arriving in Turin dated back to December 2024.

That injury history explains Tudor’s decision to use him sparingly. The coach wants the player to regain full match fitness before granting more responsibility. Yet after the draw with Milan, Tudor’s comments raised some eyebrows. “I make choices based on what’s best for the team,” he said. “I observe everything and choose who can bring results.”

Edon Zhegrova 📸

At present, Zhegrova doesn’t seem to be considered at the same level as other attacking options. Against Milan, Tudor preferred Openda and a tactical shift rather than using the Kosovar winger.

Still, Zhegrova has now been recalled to the Kosovo national team for World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Sweden. Those matches could offer a clearer picture of his condition before returning to Juventus — where he continues to chase his first start in black and white.

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