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In the next few days, Cristiano Giuntoli will leave Juventus, making way for incoming general director Damien Comolli. The former Napoli official only oversaw one summer transfer campaign, in addition to last January’s Mercato, but he certainly didn’t sit on his laurels, as he pulled off a whopping 13 signings in total.
Sadly for Giuntoli, several of his key signings failed to live up to expectations, which effectively cost him his job.
So let’s take a closer look at the 13 first-team players who signed for Juventus during he 2024/25 campaign, and rank them based on the success (or lack of) they found at the club, while also taking into account the cost and stipulations of every operation.
N/A. Juan Cabal
Sadly for the Colombian, his campaign was cut short by a horrific ACL injury, so Juventus fans weren’t able to see enough to pass a fair judgment.
He’ll feel like a new signing next season.
12. Douglas Luiz
The Brazilian was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League last season, but he endured a nightmarish campaign in Turin. If he ever showed some promising signs, the flame quickly faded due to recurring injury problems.
11. Teun Koopmeiners
The Dutchman only escaped the bottom spot because he managed to lock himself a starting spot in the plans of both Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor, although he did little to justify it. Juventus spent nine months chasing the former Atalanta man, but the mesmerising version remained in Bergamo.
10. Lloyd Kelly
The definition of a panic buy. Juventus were keen to sign a new defender at the end of the January window, and Newcastle smelled their desperation. The 26-year-old wasn’t even a first choice for Eddie Howe, but the Magpies insisted on including an €20m obligation to buy for a player they signed for free six months earlier.
Kelly also didn’t cover himself in glory, committing costly mistakes against PSV and Parma.
9. Alberto Costa
The young Portuguese showed some promise towards the end of the season, but not enough to suggest he possesses the required quality to play for Juventus.
8. Nicolas Gonzalez
This wasn’t necessarily a terrible piece of business on Giuntoli’s part, but the Argentinian rarely had a significant impact on the match. The Bianconeri could have invested those €35 million in a more suitable profile.
7. Randal Kolo Muani
While the loan fee was a bit too high and the stipulations far from ideal, the Frenchman tended to the Old Lady’s needs at a time when Dusan Vlahovic was running short on energy and confidence. Although his sensational start was followed by a drop in form, his goals were decisive for Champions League qualification.
6. Renato Veiga
Another January signing who arrived on a dry loan. The Chelsea man has probably played his last Juventus match already, but he did his duty at a time when the squad was crying out for a decent centre-back.
5. Francisco Conceicao
The diminutive winger was the toast of the town at the start of the season, but then endured a few obstacles along the way which derailed his momentum, including a manager who considered him ill-suited to his plans. Nevertheless, most Juventus fans are hoping the club signs him on a permanent transfer.
4. Vasilije Adzic
Juventus may have wasted money on expensive flops, but poaching exceptional wonderkids has been their redeeming quality. The Montenegrin didn’t get too many opportunities with the first team this season, but was sensational for Juventus Next Gen.
3. Pierre Kalulu
Even though he wasn’t the club’s first choice, the Frenchman proved to be an excellent buy. It’s a shame that his campaign ended with a foolish red card, as the defender was one of the most consistent players at the club this season, convincing everyone at the club to buy him from Milan.
2. Michele Di Gregorio
The Italian consolidated his place amongst the best goalkeepers in Serie A with another solid campaign. His teammates certainly made him earn his dues.
1. Khephren Thuram
At a time when the majority of the squad appeared to be regressing, the French midfielder was on a steady rise, looking better and sharper with every fresh outing. Fast, dynamic, energetic, relentless and skilful, Thuram has every trait you’d want in a modern midfielder, and the margin of improvement is simply terrifying.
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Top Micah Parsons landing spots as Cowboys' contract talks deteriorate
The relationship between superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys doesn't appear to be improving. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported earlier in the week that the two sides were moving backward in their contract negotiations. On Friday, Parsons posted on his social media that he had requested a trade out of Dallas. However, The Athletic's Dianna Russini claimed the Cowboys have "no intention" of trading him. Given this information, let's take a look at three landing spots that make the most sense for Parsons. Denver Broncos The Broncos allowed the third-fewest amount of points in 2024-25 (311 points), per ESPN stats, and already have one of the best defensive units in football. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Jahdae Barron were added to the group this offseason, so why not continue to bolster? Denver owns all of its upcoming draft picks over the next three years, which could be used in a package to acquire Parsons. They are also set to have a ton of cap space available for 2026 and 2027, enabling them to put forth the contract offer that Parsons is seeking. With three more seasons of quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie deal, the Broncos could take advantage and go all in on the superstar pass-rusher, making a potent front seven that much more dangerous. Los Angeles Chargers The team that allowed even fewer points than the Broncos last season? The Chargers (301 points). Head coach Jim Harbaugh immediately righted the ship defensively upon his arrival, but there remain holes to fill. They've shed plenty of money in recent years, which included a former third-overall pick from 2016 in DE Joey Bosa. It's now time to use that cap space to bring in a difference maker on defense. Like Denver, Los Angeles holds all of its own draft picks from 2026 through 2028 and is capable of putting the pieces together to pry Parsons out of Dallas. Not only could the Chargers compensate the 26-year-old, but it's likely he would be fine with calling Los Angeles home. New England Patriots The Patriots currently have the most cap space in the NFL and are in a prime position to strike at any moment. It's been a difficult last few seasons in Foxborough, but the vibe has changed with new head coach Mike Vrabel taking over. The Patriots culture is back, and it's now up to the front office to provide Vrabel with more talent on both sides of the ball. New England is in desperate need of a game-breaking player. Parsons fits the mold perfectly. The Pats had a league-worst 28 sacks last season, per ESPN stats, so the pass rush could use some help. General manager Eliot Wolf is well-equipped with draft capital to feel comfortable making such a move.
Lakers Interested in $60 Million All-Star Big Man, Under One Condition
The Los Angeles Lakers were hunting for a center for most of the offseason after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They knew they needed an upgrade from Jaxon Hayes. While the Lakers didn't get any of the top centers on the free agent market, they were able to sign Deandre Ayton after he was bought out. Another center would be a better fit, but he wasn't available in the offseason. Nikola Vucevic has been linked to the Lakers dating all the way back to the trade deadline, although Vucevic was not moved. More news: Lakers Make Massive Announcement Ahead of 2025-26 Season The Lakers would only be interested in Vucevic if he were to be bought out, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Los Angeles will not be pursuing a trade to acquire Vucevic. After bringing in Ayton on a two-year deal, it wouldn't make sense to trade assets in order to bring in Vucevic. They want to see what Ayton can do before bailing on him already. The Lakers needed a starting center, as that was their biggest need heading into the offseason. While Ayton isn't the greatest option, he is someone who can help the team with what he brings to the table. The Bulls seem to think that Vucevic can still help them win games and contend for the playoffs in what will be a very weak Eastern Conference next season. If things don't go well by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Bulls might decide to buy him out if they aren't in the playoff picture. That would be the only scenario in which the Lakers bring him in. More news: Lakers Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Luka Doncic Extension The Lakers are always looking to improve the roster whenever possible. They aren't worried about hurting feelings, so they wouldn't hesitate to offer Vucevic a contract if they thought he was better than Ayton. With LeBron James entering the end of his career, the Lakers are going to try to win the title as quickly as possible while he is still on the roster. Last season with the Bulls, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Lakers Castoff All-Star Linked to East Team in Free Agency For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Report: Knicks made a signing based on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade belief
The New York Knicks aren't waiting for the offseason drama surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to end before taking care of a key signing for their roster this summer. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, the Knicks signed Mikal Bridges to a four-year deal worth $150M on Thursday. "New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges has agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract extension with the franchise, agents Sam Goldfeder and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports Management tell ESPN," Charania posted on X. "The new deal includes a player option for 2029-30 and a trade kicker." Bridges' extension might not have happened if the Knicks believed they had a serious shot to land an elite player in a trade this summer. Per Ashish Mathur of Hoops Wire, the Knicks made their decision to sign Bridges to a new deal after they learned Antetokounmpo plans to stay in Milwaukee. "The New York Knicks got intel that Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t request a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks before signing Mikal Bridges to an extension, an NBA source told Hoops Wire on Thursday," Mathur wrote. "...The Knicks would have pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo had the two-time MVP requested a trade from the Bucks. All signs point toward Antetokounmpo remaining in Milwaukee." Due to the player option Bridges has in his new deal, the guard cannot be traded for at least six months. Mathur's report signals the reality that New York wants to land another star to pair with Jalen Brunson. However, the Knicks might not make a big splash until the trade deadline next year. The Knicks need a big man who can score and play defense at a high level in the playoffs, something Karl-Anthony Towns was unable to do in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Insider predicts how Cowboys, Micah Parsons contract standoff will end
As of the first day of August, there remained no indication that the Dallas Cowboys and star pass-rusher Micah Parsons were close to coming to terms on a contract extension. Parsons is in the final year of his rookie deal, so some understandably have wondered if he could follow in the footsteps of Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin and use a trade request as a negotiating tactic. During Friday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program, NFL insider Dan Graziano reported that he still believes "Parsons will be a Cowboy for a long time." That doesn't necessarily mean the two sides will come to terms on an agreement anytime soon. "I don't know, for a fact, that this contract gets done before [the] opening week of this season," Graziano continued. "[The Cowboys] do have the franchise tag available to them for 2026 and 2027 if need be." Graziano mentioned that the Cowboys have a history of getting deals done later than fans would like. Last summer, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb didn't receive his four-year, $136M deal until after Dallas finished its final game of the preseason. The following month, the news that quarterback Dak Prescott had agreed to a four-year extension broke just hours before Dallas' regular-season opener. T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers reset the market for edge-rushers when he agreed to a three-year, $123M extension that included $108M guaranteed ahead of training camp. While it's expected that Parsons would become the new highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL if he signs a deal this summer, it's possible the two sides are waiting to see if Trey Hendrickson accepts an offer from the Cincinnati Bengals before September. It's unclear how, if at all, a Hendrickson deal would impact how much money Parsons hopes to make via his extension. "There's a chance that we could get into this season with Micah Parsons actually playing out the final year of his contract and confronting the possibility of a franchise tag next March," Graziano continued. ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith recently attracted attention when he said Parsons should make it known he's "willing to sit out the year" if he doesn't receive his desired extension. Graziano noted that such a move isn't "feasible" because Parsons' current contract would toll, meaning he'd still have one season left on his deal in 2026. Dallas opens the 2025 campaign with a prime-time matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. It sounds like Parsons will be in the lineup for that contest even if he doesn't sign an extension before that Thursday evening arrives.
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