Former Juventus player Paolo Di Canio offered his thoughts on the Bianconeri ahead of their upcoming match against Lazio. Speaking with Tuttosport, Di Canio discussed Juve’s potential transfer targets, the form of certain players and why he thinks the Old Lady should try and sign Joshua Zirkzee on loan.
The Old Lady has shown promising signs in the early stages of the season, as Di Canio noted: “We are already seeing the right compactness, attitude, and mentality. It’s a team that doesn’t concede goals and rarely gives the opponent a chance to hurt them.” This defensive solidity has been a hallmark of Juventus’ success in the past, and it appears to be a foundation upon which the current squad is building.
However, the offensive output has left something to be desired, as Di Canio admitted, “On the offensive front, I must say I expected more. Of course, we’re not talking about Guardiola-style play, because Thiago Motta is good, but as we’ve all said, it’s not like Bologna was stealing the show, yet they often occupied the opponent’s half with all their elements.”
When discussing Juventus’ goals for the season, it’s important to remember the club’s storied history and expectations. As the Di Canio pointed out, “Well, Juve is Juve: as Alex Del Piero always says, even if you finished tenth the year before, Juve always starts with the aim to compete.” This mentality is ingrained in the club’s DNA and continues to drive their ambitions.
However, there’s a realistic approach to these ambitions. “I don’t think the Scudetto is an obligation,” the expert continued. “The obligation, if anything, is to finish in the top four and secure a Champions League spot, that’s for sure.” This pragmatic view reflects the competitive nature of Serie A and the importance of Champions League qualification for the club’s financial and sporting future.
One of the most intriguing subplots of Juventus’ season has been the performance of Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian midfielder arrived with high expectations, but his form has been a topic of debate. “Douglas is a player I often talk about, not just with Juventus fans,” the pundit explained. “I had expressed my opinion: I said that Juventus had signed a top player. And I’m still convinced of that. Simply put, what I’ve seen here is a distant relative, he’s unrecognizable.”
Di Canio went on to speculate about possible reasons for Luiz’s struggles, suggesting, “Beyond the €50 million valuation, which I think is fair for the player’s level, he’s really a different person compared to the one I’ve seen so many times at Aston Villa. I don’t blame the player or the coach, I don’t know what the situation is, but there could be a psychological problem.”
The idea of using Yildiz as a backup for Vlahovic has been floated, but the former Juve man has reservations. “Yildiz shouldn’t be transformed: you can do it for a game or two, but not for four or five months,” he warned. “Yildiz’s strength is starting from behind, in space, in one-on-one situations. When he’s more central, he performs better because he aims for the goal, but he’s not a center-forward.”
Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Di Canio made an intriguing suggestion: “I would try to get Zirkzee on loan from Manchester United. They’ve been making crazy choices for a few years now and nothing is working, not even Zirkzee.” The pundit believes Zirkzee could be the perfect profile for Juventus, providing Motta with a striker who has different characteristics from Vlahovic.
As Juventus prepares to face Lazio, Di Canio offered insights into the upcoming match. “Let’s see how the players return from international duty,” he cautioned. “Lazio has acquired elements not with great imagination but with running, dynamics, leg strength: vertical passing and running, clean play, high and low wingers, with Castellanos who has freed himself from Immobile’s shadow and with Dia who brings verticality.”
The pundit painted a picture of a Lazio team that has transformed into a unit of fighters: “Everyone fights, they’re reactive, many players in the past have fought for survival: this Lazio looks like a team of soldiers.” He warned that if Juventus approaches the game with complacency, they could fall into Lazio’s trap, as many other teams have done.
