TURIN, ITALY - DECEMBER 11: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Juventus and Manchester City at Juventus Stadium on December 11, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - DECEMBER 11: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Juventus and Manchester City at Juventus Stadium on December 11, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli insists there is no rush to discuss a new Dusan Vlahovic contract, but the club, team and fans must ‘keep going with a united front.’
You can follow all the action as it happens from the Coppa Italia tie with Cagliari on the Liveblog.
If the tie is level after 90 minutes, it goes directly to a penalty shoot-out without needing extra time.
The winners go on to face Empoli in the quarter-final.
There was tension after the most recent 2-2 draw with Venezia, with Vlahovic getting into a row with some of the fans who had hurled insults from the stands at the final whistle.
The Viking group of ultras today had a banner assuring it was an ‘isolated incident’ that would not affect the rapport with the striker.
“We played many games with very few options to rotate due to injuries, so we were penalised during that period,” Giuntoli told Sport Mediaset.
“Both we and the fans are the first to be upset if we don’t win, but we must keep going with a united front towards a future that will give us satisfaction.”
Juventus confident on united future after tension
EMPOLI, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 14: Cristiano Giuntoli of Juventus during the Serie A match between Empoli and Juventus at Stadio Carlo Castellani on September 14, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
With Vlahovic’s future in mind, the director was asked about talks for a new Juventus contract, as the striker has been linked with Arsenal.
“The rapport with Vlahovic and his agent is extraordinary. He still has another year on his contract, we’ll meet up after the January window closes. There is still time to sort things out and progress in the best possible way.”
Agent Jorge Mendes was also in Turin this week and he represents Francisco Conceicao, as well as Juventus target Antonio Silva of Benfica.
“I said hello to Mendes, but we did not talk about the transfer market. When it comes to January, clubs keep their cards close to their chest at this stage, so we’ll know something towards the start of next month. We are looking for at least one defender.”
Juventus have stuttered so far this season under new coach Thiago Motta, unbeaten in Serie A, but also notching up four consecutive stalemates.
“We started from scratch with a new coach and new tactical ideas, while the number of injuries slowed down the initial hugely impressive start. Don’t forget in the first few weeks, the team was hardly conceding any goals and played some beautiful football.
“With so many games, we lacked the squad rotation and it caused some difficulties. We need to stay united and wait for January, where we should get reinforcements and also have Arek Milik back. We must think positive.”
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