Juventus may sit sixth in the table, but they are just two points behind Serie A leaders Napoli in what has become the most wide open title race in the Italian top flight in ages.
Defending champions Inter Milan are still seen as the de facto favorites after running away with the Scudetto last season by nearly 20 points, but Juventus are just as much in the hunt as the Nerazzurri to finally win the crown after going nearly five years without a title they used to be guaranteed to win every season for a decade.
Juventus have improved their attack under new manager Thiago Motta, but their real calling card coming into the season was a steady defense bookended by the center back trio of Danilo, Federico Gatti, and, of course, former Serie A Defender of the Year Gleison Bremer.
Injuries have caused Juve’s defense to reel recently. After Bremer’s ACL tear and now with summer signing Juan Cabral suffering the same injury with Colombia, Juventus no longer have much defensive depth.
Another quality summer signing, Pierre Kalulu, projects as the starter next to Gatti, who has only improved under Motta. And Danilo is a nice veteran backup to have on hand, even though he’s only started three games in 2024/25 with decline setting in.
But Juventus are on the hunt for another center back, and as much as they dream of poaching former Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar from PSG, they may have to go for a more realistic option – and someone who isn’t as big of a name.
Tuttosport’s transfer insider Nicolo Schira recently reported that Manchester United have actually offered Victor Lindelof, a potential AC Milan target, to Juventus as a January signing.
Manchester United have completely overhauled the center back position after signing Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro this past summer, and they are now desperately trying to pawn off Harry Maguire and Lindelof for cash after allowing Raphael Varane to walk in free agency a few months back.
Lindelof is an experienced option and not the worst fourth center back in the world, but why on earth should Juventus pay a fee for a fourth-string center back with no future upside or resale value who may only be marginally better in the immediate term than trusting one of the many unknown youth stars whom Thiago Motta seems to be plucking out of nowhere?
Basically, Lindelof is a terrible idea, and Manchester United are offering him for a reason. When a club in 13th offers you, a Champions League side, a veteran backup, the best thing to do is just say no.
Plus, Lindelof will be a free agent anyway next summer, so there’s no point in wasting a few million euros on him and then having to re-sign him on major wages anyway.
Juventus have made too many free agent mistakes in the past. Spending on his wages and bonuses as a free agent is a bad idea, but so is spending money to sign him as a six-month rental.
