REGGIO NELLEMIGLIA, ITALY – JUNE 9: Italy national team coach Luciano Spalletti gestures during the FIFA 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Moldova at Citta del Tricolore Mapei Stadium on June 9, 2025 in Reggio Nelle Miglia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabatini/Getty Images)
Former Roma manager Walter Sabatini has claimed that Luciano Spalletti and Juventus need each other so much that the Bianconeri are like “pure morphine” to the former Italy manager.
Juventus are set to appoint Spalletti as their new manager, with the Italian tactician agreeing to a contract until the end of the season with an option to extend if they qualify for the Champions League.
Walter Sabatini worked with Spalletti at Roma and believes the Certaldo-born tactician is the perfect fit for the Bianconeri.
“At Juventus, in the current situation, it is not enough to have a coach who does things properly,” Sabatini told Gazzetta.
“The Bianconeri need something more and Luciano is the ideal genius to reinvigorate them. Juventus lack leadership on the pitch. When you don’t have players to take the team forward, you need an evolved style of play to neutralize the problem.”
Sabatini: “Juventus need more than a coach”
“At the moment it’s not enough to just do things pretty well. I haven’t talked to Spalletti, but if this is the club’s choice, Luciano will be the right person in the right place at the right time. Juventus needs Luciano and Luciano needs Juventus.”
Spalletti is also looking for a new challenge after a disappointing stint as Italy’s national team manager. Sabatini claimed Juventus would be like “pure morphine” for the former CT.
“Luciano is suffering physically from his failures with the national team. He cannot find peace,” Sabatini continued.
“The pain caused by this experience with the Azzurri cannot be cured with aspirin. He lived every day at Coverciano with a patriotic spirit. To ease that pain, Spalletti needs industrial doses of morphine, and Juventus will represent just that. An ideal and unmissable opportunity for both the club and Luciano, a perfect marriage.”
Italy lost to Switzerland in the round of 16 at the 2024 European Championship, and lost 3-0 against Norway in their first World Cup qualifying match in June, resulting in Spalletti losing his job as coach.
Sabatini also believes that many players, especially Kenan Yildiz, will improve under Spalletti’s guidance.
Sabatini talks about Yildiz’s predictions
“I can imagine him being unstoppable. He’s a great talent, he’s young and he’s already decisive at the top level,” he said.
“Yildis could be to Juventus what Kvaratschelia was to Napoli, with whom Spalletti won titles. There is a difference, not in terms of style of play, but in terms of his influence on the team and on the game.”
“Sparetti embodies the beauty and spaciousness of football, from which all players benefit,” Sabatini concluded.
“I’m sure Copeminers will rediscover themselves under Luciano. If they have to find a flow, perhaps Juventus will need more options in midfield.”
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