Spalletti urges Juventus to repay Agnelli's faith
Juventus travels to Bologna for a Serie A clash on Monday (AEDT) after the Agnelli family announced it had rejected a more than $1 billion offer for the club.
Juve coach Luciano Spalletti said he wanted to repay the Agnelli family's commitment to the Bianconeri as a reult of it rejecting the bid from cryptocurrency firm Tether – reportedly worth over €1b – for the Old Lady.
John Elkann, the chief executive of Exor, the Agnelli family's hold company, said in a video posted to social media: "Juve has been part of my family for 102 years.
"It is with this passion in mind, with this love story that has united us for more than a century, that as a family we continue to support our team and look to the future to build a winning Juve."
Spalletti welcomed that news on the eve of a trip to Bologna, and the former Italy boss believes that improving on Juve's current position of seventh in Serie A is the best way to repay that faith.
"Even though I've only been here a short time, I think I can include the whole squad in this conversation," Spalletti said.
"It's gratifying once again to hear the strength and passion that John Elkann and the family have for this club.
"It's clear that it's up to us to give substance and solidity to that passion, by honouring the past and building a future at the same level, or even better."
Compared to this stage of the 2024-2025 Serie A campaign, Juve has three fewer points, 23 to 26, has scored fewer goals, 18 to 22, conceded more, 14 to eight, and is further away from the top of the table, eight points to six.
Spalletti has only overseen two victories in five Serie A games since taking the reins, with his average of 1.6 points per game being the worst of any Bianconeri boss since Luigi Delneri between 2010 and 2011.
Juve also toiled for long periods in a 2-0 midweek victory over Pafos in the UEFA Champions League, but Spalletti is convinced better times lie ahead.
"Nobody will convince me that these players aren't good. On the contrary, I'm convinced we will overcome these limitations," he said.
"I accepted this role because I believe in it. I've been doing this job for years, and I know it isn't easy. I'm obsessed with the idea of being able to change and improve this group."
