In a bold move to reshape the squad inherited from Massimiliano Allegri, new Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has made direct contact with Napoli’s captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo. According to Sportitalia transfer expert Michele Criscitiello, Motta personally called Di Lorenzo on Wednesday night, urging the Italian international to consider a switch to the Allianz Stadium.
The 30-year-old right-back has expressed his desire to leave Napoli following a disappointing 2023/24 season. Despite efforts by Napoli’s current manager, Antonio Conte, to persuade him to stay, Di Lorenzo remains intent on departing. Juventus is keen to offer him a new challenge as they look to bolster their right flank.
Juventus’ need for a reliable right-back has become evident with team captain Danilo nearing the twilight of his career and Mattia De Sciglio sidelined for most of last season due to a knee injury. Motta views Di Lorenzo as the ideal candidate to strengthen the team’s defense and inject fresh energy into the lineup.
While the details of Motta and Di Lorenzo’s conversation remain undisclosed, the player’s determination to leave Naples appears genuine. However, securing his transfer to Juventus will require negotiations with Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, a task known to be challenging within Serie A circles.
The last significant transfer deal between Juventus and Napoli occurred in 2016 when Gonzalo Higuain made a high-profile move to Turin. If successful, Di Lorenzo’s transfer could mark another landmark agreement between the two Italian giants as Juventus aims to reinforce their squad for the upcoming season.
