Juve, Vlahovic is a problem. Arsenal is there, but Motta holds back: "He will continue to help us"

Bologna, 26 January 2025 – Minus sixteen from Napoli and first defeat of the season in the championship. Not just a draw, then. Motta says goodbye to the Scudetto, if there was ever a chance to play for it, and the two-one defeat suffered in the comeback at the Maradona puts the Juve in the difficult situation of seeing the summit at minus sixteen and highlights the risk that the Lazio can extend their lead in the race for the top four places. And luckily Empoli stopped the Bologna, otherwise there would have been one more rival. In short, this first year of Thiago at Juve is becoming much more difficult than expected and the coach, making his debut in a big team with a triple commitment, has paid the price for injuries and the complex calendar, like in Naples where the men of Tale they put the high gears in the second half showing that they have much more energy than the black and whites. And in all this there is the mother of problems, which corresponds to the name of Dusan VlahovicThe striker started from the bench once again and Motta immediately fielded Round Muani, who also scored, with Dusan on the pitch only in the final minutes. Motta, however, put an end to the controversy: "There are no problems".  

Motta: “Paid for the physical gap. Vlahovic? Don’t look for problems…”

The decline Juve. A bit like a flame that slowly went out. A good first half, both in terms of ball possession and defensive set-up, few chances conceded and the lead signed Round Muani which seemed to confirm the recent progress seen against Atalanta and Milan, instead in the second half the Neapolitans increased their shots, energy, physical condition and that's where the Juve has dropped, marking time first on an energetic level and then on a mental level. Of course, the explanation for the Maradona match can be all here, but the sixteen points gap in the standings is not. In any case, Motta he wanted to extrapolate the positive things: "We played a great first half and I liked the team - his words after the match - We played with personality and with the ball on the ground, while in the second half we were unable to repeat ourselves. I had asked the boys to do the first press well so as not to have to chase and we were not able to keep up the pace. We paid for the physical gap given that they only play once a week". But there is a real problem at home Juve, despite Motta trying to downplay it: his name is Dusan VlahovicThe centre-forward started from the bench in Naples too and Thiago immediately gave space to Kolo Muani, who repaid the faith with the goal that gave the team the temporary lead. Vlahovic he is experiencing a difficult situation, between the renewal which is at a standstill, the lack of technical feeling with Motta and the market rumours, with the Arsenal who would be ready to invest in him. The coach tries to calm the rumors: "There are no problems in the team, Dusan is a positive leader and has helped us a lot and will continue to do so. Don't create problems where there aren't any", the response of Motta. But the club must still evaluate the situation and with a renewal that is not unlocked, a transfer cannot be ruled out a priori, even in January. Much will depend from Arsenal, who asked for information even if the first objective remains Sesko. If the attempt with the Slovenian Giuntoli fails, he could receive a call from London. The plot does not stop here, because Juve itself is apparently thinking about Sesko for the summer, when the end of the relationship with seems certain Vlahovic, who will have to be sold to avoid the expiry of his contract. Around 65 million euros would be needed for Sesko and could be financed by Vlahovic himself. In the meantime, Motta is enjoying his first goal Round Muani, who in fact seems to have immediately ousted Vlahovic from the hierarchies: "I saw him as very good and proactive, with the club we have always agreed on the fact that he could give us a hand and I hope it continues like this". In short, Vlahovic, now that there is internal competition, will have to earn his place this week, always assuming that the parties do not make the decision to separate.  

Defender hunt: Gochlidze climbs the hierarchy

But there is the last week of the market to complete and for Joints the mission is to pick up a defender. The Juventus director has had Empoli centre-back Saba on his list for some time Gochlidze, who also played a solid and solid game against Bologna last night against a difficult client like Dan Ndoye. Both Giuntoli and Motta like the Georgian defender a lot and the parties are working, behind the scenes, to make him a concrete target. Empoli is engaged in the fight for survival and would not like to give up halfway through the season, but in the face of a good offer everything becomes transferable. The boy is constantly monitored by the Juventus market men and the costs could be in a range between 8 and 10 million euros. Finally, the position of beans, now lowered in Motta's hierarchy in midfield. The transfer does not seem impossible and Marseille has asked for information for him, for a loan until the end of the season and to reassess in the summer what to do. Juve is open to a transfer and would like to include an obligation to buy in the deal, but for now the French are not in agreement. There could be developments in the coming days, especially if the player enters the mindset of trying to accumulate minutes elsewhere.

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