Former Juventus defender slams current squad and criticizes Danilo exit

Former Juventus defender Júlio César has offered a harsh critique of the current squad, casting doubt on whether any player presently wearing the black and white is up to the historic standards of the club.

In his words, he sees “very little talent in Serie A in general,” and couldn’t identify anyone in the Juventus lineup who made him think, “Yes, he’s worthy of Juventus.”

“I see very little talent in Serie A in general,” he said  via TuttoMercatoWeb. “I can’t find anyone of outstanding quality in the Juventus squad: there’s really no one who makes me say, ‘Yes, he’s worthy of Juve.’”

Juventus once built their identity on attracting top-tier talent and assembling squads capable of dominating Italian football.

This approach was at the heart of their golden era from 2012 to 2020, when they won nine consecutive Serie A titles. The club’s ability to identify, sign, and integrate elite players became synonymous with success.

But the tide turned in 2021 when Inter Milan, under Antonio Conte, ended Juventus’ title streak. Since then, Juventus have failed to reclaim the Scudetto and have increasingly struggled to stay competitive with rivals such as Milan, Inter, and Napoli.

Much of Juventus’ recent instability has been attributed to frequent managerial changes. Since 2020, the club has cycled through Massimiliano Allegri, Maurizio Sarri, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta, and now Igor Tudor, with each new regime bringing a different tactical philosophy and vision.

Off the pitch, financial issues have only compounded the club’s difficulties. Sanctions for accounting violations and the loss of Champions League revenue have limited Juventus’ transfer activity and impacted squad depth.

Despite investing in players such as Douglas Luiz, Teun Koopmeiners, and Nico Gonzalez, many of the recent signings have failed to deliver the expected performance levels.

Now a player agent, César played in Turin from 1990 to 1994 and won a UEFA Cup with the club. He also addressed the situation of fellow Brazilian Douglas Luiz, who has been at the center of speculation this summer: “He seems out of place, as if he hasn’t adapted.”

He then mentioned Bremer, saying: “He needs time. And with the national team, he’s behind players like Marquinhos or Gabriel Magalhães, who play in more visible leagues than Serie A.”

During his chat with the Piedmont-based newspaper, César also brought up another Brazilian whose departure from Juventus has never fully convinced him—especially the way it was handled: Danilo.

“In Brazil, he plays as a center-back and is doing well,” he said. “He could have contributed more—he could have been useful to this Juventus during its rebuilding phase, especially with the younger players.”

Júlio César’s criticism underscores a broader truth: for Juventus to return to the summit of Italian football, they must rediscover their identity—not just in tactics, but in talent, leadership, and ambition.