Luciano Spalletti is unaware of the source of the rumors linking Liverpool striker Federico Chiesa with a return to Juventus in the January transfer window.
Chiesa left Turin for Merseyside in 2024 but failed to impress at Anfield, with the Italian struggling with several injury problems under Arne Slot.
The 28-year-old has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, including three starts, while also registering two goals and three assists for the Reds.
But he has only featured for 469 minutes, with reports suggesting Chiesa is looking for regular game time ahead of Italy’s possible participation in the World Cup.
Chiesa made 131 appearances for Juventus during his four-year spell at the club between 2020 and 2024, with the first two seasons spent on loan at fellow Serie A side Fiorentina.
He scored 32 goals and provided 20 assists for the Bianconeri, although Spalletti said a potential return for the willing forward was well off the mark.
“I’m glad you’re telling me this news as we haven’t even had a meeting in the transfer market yet, but it’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Spalletti told reporters.
“Currently it’s just thrown out there, but there’s absolutely nothing concrete behind it.”
Juventus have started 2026 strongly, following up their draw against Lecce with a resounding 3-0 win over Sassuolo last time out.
They sit fifth in Serie A and know that a win over Cremonese at the Allianz Stadium on Monday will continue to pile the pressure on those in the top four ahead of a huge month for the club.
After the game against Cremonese, they will face Cagliari in the top flight next Saturday.
That match will be followed by a Champions League meeting with Benfica before the Bianconeri take on Serie A title hopefuls Napoli, with a European meeting away to Monaco ending their agenda in January.
However, Spalletti believes his team has much more to offer.
“The last two performances have been great, but we still need to understand certain things and do them as quickly as possible,” Spalletti added.
“Because there are times when our attitude is no better than the bare minimum.
“We tend to only show 80% of our capabilities and we don’t meet the challenges with enough determination.
“We had three or four corners where we didn’t even manage to get the ball into the penalty area.
“When you’re away from home you can’t be so wasteful because we have players who are so good in the air and who don’t get the serve on set play.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Juventus – Jonathan David
David was able to score in two consecutive club appearances in all competitions with Lille for the first time since March 2025, following his goal against Sassuolo in his most recent match.
On average per 90 minutes in all competitions, the Canadian has attempted 2.9 shots (1.6 on target) and 50 touches (10 in the penalty area) in his 14 appearances under Spalletti, compared to 1.8 shots (0.3 on target) and 33 touches (four in the opponent’s field of play) in his 10 games under Igor Tudor.
Cremonese – Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy, who scored in the reverse fixture against Juventus, could become the fifth Englishman to score against Juventus in Serie A after Joe Baker, Gerry Hitchens, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham.
He would also become only the second Englishman in history to score both home and away against the Bianconeri in the same Serie A season, after Hitchens (for Inter in 1961-62).
MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN
Juventus have won all eight Serie A home games against Cremonese, with an aggregate score of 23-3. Of the teams against whom the Bianconeri have a 100% home win record in the top flight, they have only played more games against Foggia (11).
They have also enjoyed a recent revival under Spalletti. Juventus have won eight of their last ten matches in all competitions (D1 L1), the same number of victories as in their previous 21 matches combined (W8 D8 L5).
Juventus are unbeaten in their last 13 Serie A home games (W9 D4), but have suffered setbacks in each of their last three. Since January to March 2024, they have not gone four consecutive home games in the league without a clean sheet.
Cremonese, meanwhile, have lost seven of their last eight Serie A matches against sides that started the day in the top four, including each of their last four, winning the other (2-1 against Roma in February 2023).
They have also failed to score in their last three Serie A away games (D1 L2) and have only once previously played four consecutive away games in the league without finding the net, between December 1991 and February 1992, with the fourth match of that series being played in Turin, but against Torino.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Juventus – 72.4%
Draw – 16.5%
Cremonese – 11.1%
#concrete #left #Chiesa #Juventus #Spalletti #Soccer #News