Cristiano Giuntoli’s tenure at Juventus: Financial recovery overshadowed by sporting setbacks

As Cristiano Giuntoli’s tenure as Juventus’s Football Director nears its conclusion, his time at the club is marked by a notable financial turnaround, albeit marred by underwhelming on-field performances.

Upon his arrival in the summer of 2023, Giuntoli inherited a club grappling with significant financial challenges. The 2023–24 fiscal year closed with a loss of €199.2 million, a deterioration from the €123.7 million deficit recorded the previous year.

This downturn was largely attributed to the team’s absence from European competitions, which led to a substantial drop in revenues.

In response, Giuntoli implemented a series of cost-cutting measures. Notably, the wage bill was reduced from €255.4 million to €239 million during the 2023–24 season .

These efforts bore fruit in the first half of the 2024–25 season, with the club reporting a net profit of €16.9 million, a significant improvement from the €95.1 million loss in the same period the previous year.

Despite these financial strides, Giuntoli’s tenure was not without its controversies. His decision to appoint Thiago Motta as head coach did not yield the desired results, with the team experiencing early exits from both the Champions League and Coppa Italia.

Additionally, certain transfer decisions, such as the sale of promising defender Dean Huijsen to Bournemouth for €18 million—only for him to be acquired by Real Madrid shortly thereafter—raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.