Juventus are in advanced talks with former Italy and Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti to replace Igor Tudor, who was sacked after a dismal run of results.
Igor Tudor was shown the exit door after an eight-game winless run culminated in a 1-0 defeat to Lazio, leaving the club’s leadership with little choice but to act.
Having replaced Thiago Motta in March, Tudor secured Champions League qualification for Juventus and earned a contract extension until 2028, but his side’s poor start to the new season proved costly.
Massimo Brambilla, coach of Juve’s Next Gen side, will take charge on an interim basis for the Serie A midweek clash against Udinese. However, the club are determined to secure a long-term solution quickly, and all signs point to Spalletti emerging as the frontrunner to take the job.
According to Calciomercato, the former Napoli and Italy boss is understood to be open to returning to club management after stepping down from the national team earlier this year.
Luciano Spalletti led Napoli to Serie A triumph (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
With his proven track record in Italian football and tactical pedigree, Spalletti’s profile fits Juventus’ desire to rebuild stability and identity after years of managerial turnover.
According to reports, Juventus have already made initial contact with Spalletti’s camp. Talks have reportedly begun through an intermediary, with the club receiving positive feedback from the 66-year-old, who is said to be “open and enthusiastic” about the idea of taking over in Turin.
Juve have proposed an initial six-month contract with an option to extend, potentially linked to Champions League qualification. However, Spalletti is believed to prefer a longer deal of around 18 months but remains flexible as discussions continue.
Undoubtedly one of the best managers in Italy, Spalletti guided Napoli to their first Scudetto in over three decades during the 2022-23 season.
While Spalletti might be the leading candidate for the vacant job, Juve are also exploring several alternatives as they evaluate both sporting and financial options.
Roberto Mancini, Raffaele Palladino, Daniele De Rossi, Xavi Hernandez and Edin Terzic are some of the coaches being considered for the job.
