Teun Koopmeiners’ highly anticipated move to Juventus has yet to bear fruit, leaving fans and pundits questioning the wisdom of the club’s substantial €60 million investment. The Dutch midfielder, who dazzled at Atalanta and prompted a protracted transfer saga, has so far failed to replicate his previous form in Turin.
Calciomercato report how after 21 appearances and 1,627 minutes in the black and white shirt, Koopmeiners’ return of just two goals and three assists falls well short of expectations. His integration into the team was initially hampered by a lack of preseason training, followed by a rib fracture in early October that sidelined him for over three weeks.
However, tactical decisions may also be contributing to Koopmeiners’ underwhelming performances. Manager Thiago Motta has predominantly deployed the Dutchman as an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a role that differs significantly from his position at Atalanta. At his former club, Koopmeiners thrived in a deeper midfield role, where he had more space to advance towards goal and create danger for opponents.
This positional shift, coupled with potentially suboptimal fitness levels, has deprived Juventus of the impact they expected from one of their marquee summer signings. As the January transfer window progresses, the ‘old’ Teun Koopmeiners – the player who dominated Serie A matches for Atalanta – remains elusive.
The situation raises questions about Motta’s tactical approach and whether a positional adjustment could unlock Koopmeiners’ true potential.
