Jonathan David has made clear he has no intention of leaving Juventus this summer, a stance that is directly complicating the club’s search for a new centre-forward, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Canadian, speaking from his national team’s World Cup camp, has made clear he wants to revive his career in black and white next season rather than seek an exit after a difficult debut campaign. As Gazzetta explains, he is banking on a pattern from his career of slow starts followed by eventual adaptation.
David arrived in Turin having finished second only to Erling Haaland among strikers born after 2000 in terms of scoring output, but he struggled to translate that record into performances that satisfied Spalletti. He ended the campaign without reaching double figures for the first time in his career and made just one start after Vlahovic returned from injury.
Spalletti has been openly critical of David’s lack of aggression in the penalty area, repeatedly demanding more ferocity and force from his forward line. That dissatisfaction was compounded by a poor World Cup opener with Canada, where David missed a clear chance and was substituted with half an hour still to play.
Juve CEO Giovanni Carnevali is understood to be exploring alternatives including Alexander Sorloth, Randal Kolo Muani, and a possible reunion with the near-free agent Dusan Vlahovic, but David’s refusal to move leaves little room to add another forward. His salary of €6 million net per year plus bonuses, combined with the club’s inability to offload Mathis Openda – Juve’s other flop signing from the 2025 summer window – is squeezing the budget further, as detailed by background on David’s arrival and contract terms.
It remains difficult to see Spalletti settling for good intentions alone. Whether David’s determination to stay outlasts the club’s search for a more physical number nine may define how Juventus’ attack looks when the window closes, a situation already shaping the club’s summer plans.
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