Juventus is taking shape and the market can only help

One week before the start of the league season, Croatian coach Igor Tudor appears to have a clear vision for his team. The transfer market, at this point, can only serve to enhance what has already been built, not revolutionize it.

This was evident during yesterday evening’s friendly against Atalanta, where Tudor made no substitutions until the 75th minute. It was a clear signal: the period of experimentation is over, and the coach has identified what he believes to be his starting eleven—at least based on the players currently available.

While he may not yet have the complete squad he envisions, particularly with Randal Kolo Muani still absent but increasingly likely to return, Tudor is working with those he deems best suited to his style and tactical philosophy.

Given this context, it is fair to assume that the Juventus seen in Bergamo could closely resemble the one that will take the field next Sunday at the Allianz Stadium against Parma, where the competition will begin in earnest and there will be no more room for tests.

Tudor has shaped his team with patience and clarity, without being discouraged by a slow-moving transfer window that seems to be coming to life only now, days before the season opener.

Throughout the pre-season, Tudor has consistently used players like Nico Gonzalez—despite ongoing transfer rumors—and even experimented with Teun Koopmeiners in a new role, hoping to help him bounce back from a difficult previous season.

Nicolas Gonzalez of Juventus during the Atalanta BC v Juventus FC – Pre-Season Friendly on August 16, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy.

These choices reflect a coach who is both pragmatic and forward-thinking, willing to adapt but without compromising on his core ideas. Looking ahead, changes brought by the market are unlikely to disrupt the current structure.

Whether Nahuel Molina or another player arrives to replace the Argentine in the lineup, or Manuel Locatelli is once again paired with Khephren Thuram in midfield, or even if Pierre Kalulu is reintegrated into the defense, Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 formation seems firmly in place.

It is the framework through which he is building a Juventus in his own image, using the resources available without forcing unnatural solutions.

The anticipated arrivals—Kolo Muani and possibly a new winger and a central midfielder—will be welcomed not because the team lacks identity, but because they can offer additional quality and depth.

For Tudor, these additions won’t disrupt the balance he has created; they will simply raise the team’s potential. With a clear tactical structure and a well-defined group, Juventus looks ready to start the season—and maybe, finally, have some fun doing it.