Will Spalletti’s stance on Locatelli end his Juventus career?

Luciano Spalletti was very clear about the reasons he did not want Manuel Locatelli in his squad when he was managing the Italian national team. The explanation came after his surprising decision to select Nicolo Fagioli for Euro 2024 while leaving the Juventus captain at home. It was a choice that puzzled many observers, yet Spalletti communicated his reasoning directly to Locatelli and later addressed the matter publicly.

Spalletti’s Original Concerns

Locatelli has remained a key figure at Juventus despite being overlooked by Italy, and he is now working under Spalletti again at club level. This has given him a new opportunity to prove the manager wrong. However, his style of play has not changed significantly, and Spalletti continues to view him as overly conservative in possession and decision-making. This trait was the primary reason the manager felt Locatelli was not suited to his Italy squad, and it is now becoming an increasingly visible issue at Juventus.

The situation has raised concerns within the club, as Spalletti’s tactical demands are clear and uncompromising. Players who do not meet those expectations risk falling out of favour, and Locatelli’s reluctance to take more risks appears to be hindering his chances of establishing himself as a central figure in the manager’s plans.