Sassuolo sporting director Giovanni Carnevali confirmed that Juventus are interested in midfielder Davide Frattesi, but so are other teams. The Neroverdi have often boasted an impressive array of young talents who have moved on to bigger teams, including forwards Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori who joined West Ha, and Napoli respectively, last summer. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Carnevali touched on the potential future of a number of their current crop, including Frattesi who has always maintained that he wants to return to Roma this summer:
How did you part ways with (Juventus CFO) Francesco Calvo after the last league meeting?
“We know that Juve likes Frattesi, but not only Juve….there will be time to talk about it in more detail. Certainly Davide is ready for a big team. And, as always, in case of a goodbye, we hope to sell him in Italy. But lately we have sold Scamacca and Traorè to the Premier League.”
How much is Laurienté worth?
“It always depends on who wants him. He is worth a lot, but I hope that over time his valuation can grow even more. For characteristics, I wouldn’t be surprised if offers come in from England. But right now I don’t even think about selling him.”
Between June 2022 and January 2023 you cashed in more than €100 million between Raspadori, Traoré and Scamacca. Would you be surprised if the latter, after a complicated season in England also due to some physical problems, left West Ham in the summer to return to Italy on loan? There is talk of Juve…
“I have not spoken with Gianluca, but I would not be surprised. For Juve or any other Italian big teams it would be an opportunity. There are not many number nines with Scamacca’s characteristics in Serie A.”
How does it feel for you to see Raspadori, a jewel who grew up in Sassuolo’s youth academy, in the Champions League quarterfinals and one step away from the Scudetto with Napoli?
“It is a pride for all of Sassuolo. Raspadori could become the first boy from our youth setup to win the Scudetto. In the last two years we have triumphed at the Viareggio with the Under 18 team, and we hope that some of these talents can represent the future of the club.”
Dionisi and Allegri miss no opportunity to exchange compliments. You know both of them well: are they that similar?
“Dionisi still has to build a path for himself, however, he has all the characteristics to become a top coach like Max. Allegri may not always express spectacular football, but his teams get extraordinary results even in complicated situations like the current one.”
Given De Zerbi’s excellent impact in England, do you fear foreign interest for Dionisi?
“We are meeting shortly to discuss our future. The wish is to continue together.”
Vlahovic started the season with a brace against you, but now with Juve he has not scored in action since February…
“Knock on wood… Hopefully he’ll bounce back against Sporting.”
Prediction: will Juve win the Europa League?
“They are not the favorite, but they are a great team and can do it.”
You always dreamed of Chiellini at Sassuolo. Now which Juventus player would intrigue you?
“For Chiellini I haven’t given up hope, maybe after the U.S. he will feel like having one last dance with us ! … Club patron Squinzi, who had a soft spot for talent, would have liked Di Maria.”
When there is talk of new managers for Juve, your name always circulates. Is it a missed train or could this be the right time?
“My journey at Sassuolo is not over yet and I have a special bond with the Squinzi family. I maintain the ambition to get to a top club, though.”
Are you worried about the implications that the Turin prosecutor’s Prisma investigation into Juventus might have on Sassuolo?
“We are calm, we are waiting to see what will happen.”
