Juventus fans have been on a wild ride lately, with the club’s fortunes swinging between dazzling highs and frustrating lows as the 2025-26 season heats up. If there’s one thing nobody can accuse the Bianconeri of right now, it’s being boring. From high-scoring thrillers in both Serie A and the Champions League to the emergence of young stars and swirling transfer rumors, the Allianz Stadium has become the epicenter of football drama in recent weeks.
Let’s start with the action on the pitch. In their last three outings before September 24, Juventus recorded two draws and a hard-fought win. But it’s not just the results that have fans talking—it’s how the team has gone about achieving them. In back-to-back matches against Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund, Juventus scored a whopping eight goals while conceding seven. The Bianconeri edged out Inter 4-3 in a rollercoaster Serie A clash, then clawed back a late draw against Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League debut thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer. These games were packed with wild comebacks, defensive blunders, and moments of sheer brilliance—enough to leave supporters’ hearts pounding and heads spinning.
Yet, just as quickly as they soared, Juventus came crashing back to earth with a lackluster 1-1 draw against Hellas Verona. The match was described by many as a snoozefest, with the team seemingly sleepwalking through 90 minutes against a side battling relegation. It’s this inconsistency—spectacular one week, sluggish the next—that perfectly encapsulates the current Juventus experience.
So, what’s behind this rollercoaster form? Much of it comes down to the changing of the guard in the dugout. The Thiago Motta era, which began with promise in August 2024, fizzled out amid criticism for its lack of excitement and results. Even with young talents like Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao, Motta’s Juventus struggled to entertain, let alone win consistently. As one observer put it, “Almost every game was a slog, even fun players like Francisco Conceicao or Kenan Yildiz struggled to consistently bring in sparks.”
Enter Igor Tudor, whose arrival has injected a jolt of energy and unpredictability into the team. Under Tudor’s guidance, Juventus are letting their young, creative players off the leash—and it’s paying dividends, at least in the entertainment department. Yildiz, in particular, has blossomed into the offensive fulcrum of the squad. No longer shackled to the touchline, the 20-year-old is electrifying fans every time he touches the ball. “Now free from having to touch the sidelines every single time he has the ball at his feet, Yildiz is blossoming right in front of our eyes as the offensive fulcrum of this team—and goddamn it is fun to watch,” reads one glowing review.
Yildiz’s breakthrough season has not gone unnoticed. After signing his last contract with Juventus when Motta was manager, he’s now being courted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The Turkish-German forward was recently named among the top 10 under-21 players in Europe, finishing fifth in the prestigious Kopa Trophy Ballon d’Or voting. That’s no small feat, and it’s fueled months of speculation about his future. Reports suggest Yildiz is in line for a new contract that could see his annual salary jump from €0.5 million (about $0.6 million) to at least 10 times that amount, as Juventus look to fend off interest from La Liga giants Barcelona and Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
The transfer rumors have only intensified after it emerged that Yildiz offered himself to Barcelona during the summer. The Catalan club, always on the lookout for emerging talent, is closely monitoring his situation and could make a move if contract talks with Juventus stall. Meanwhile, Premier League clubs are reportedly ready to splash the cash, lured by the promise of adding one of Europe’s most exciting young attackers to their ranks.
Despite his growing reputation, Yildiz is still only the 11th highest-paid player at Juventus, according to Capology’s latest estimates. The club’s wage hierarchy is topped by striker Dusan Vlahovic, who has been something of an enigma this season—struggling as a starter but proving impactful off the bench. Vlahovic’s recent heroics, including a game-saving performance against Borussia Dortmund, have sparked talk of a possible contract renewal beyond next summer. “He’s become a surprise impactful player off the bench and, somehow, has people unironically ask if we should start thinking about renewing his contract beyond next summer,” one analyst mused.
Other top earners at Juventus include summer signing Jonathan David (fifth), defender Gleison Bremer (ninth), and deadline day arrivals Lois Openda and Edon Zhegrova, both of whom have made the top 10 in estimated salaries. Openda, on loan from RB Leipzig, is already attracting attention from Bayern Munich, who are also keeping tabs on Vlahovic. But head coach Tudor remains committed to his unorthodox approach of using just one target man up front, even if experiments like pairing David and Openda against Hellas Verona have yet to bear fruit.
Amid the salary intrigue and transfer speculation, several other players have stepped up to provide memorable moments. Francisco Conceicao has been a livewire in attack, while Edon Zhegrova has dazzled in limited minutes. Even Joao Mario, who endured a rough outing against Verona, has shown flashes of offensive production. And let’s not forget Lloyd Kelly, who scored in back-to-back games—at the buzzer, no less—earning standing ovations from the Allianz Stadium faithful. It’s a far cry from last season, when such excitement was in short supply.
But for all the attacking fireworks, questions remain about Juventus’ defensive solidity. Allowing seven goals in two games is hardly the hallmark of a title contender. The team’s resilience in clawing back results is commendable, but it’s also a warning sign. As one commentator put it, “Allowing a combined seven goals in back-to-back games is more often than not going to yield losses… it’s also an early warning sign that this is still a team that is far from being a true contender for any silverware.”
So, where does that leave Juventus? Are they a serious threat for the Serie A crown, or just a fun, flawed side destined for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification? Their thrilling win over Inter suggests the former, but the drab draw with Verona points to the latter. For now, the jury’s still out. One thing’s for sure: with Yildiz blossoming, transfer rumors swirling, and the squad playing with newfound swagger under Tudor, the Bianconeri are must-watch television once again.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Turin to see whether this rollercoaster ride leads to glory—or just more thrills and spills along the way.
