Arkadiusz Milik will not be available for Juventus’ opening match under new head coach Thiago Motta. The Polish striker, as expected, will return for the following game against Hellas Verona, having not made a quick recovery in time for the clash against Como.
As Motta prepares for his debut in Turin, he must make do with the players at his disposal, which are few. Alongside Milik, Fabio Miretti and Vasilije Adzic are also out, while there hasn’t been any progress in the transfer market to add additional options to the squad. Currently, Juventus has only three goalkeepers and 13 outfield players who could start, along with three young players who have joined the first team for training: Nicolò Savona, Jonas Rouhi, and Samuel Mbangula.
The future of Weston McKennie also remains uncertain, and his presence would bolster the midfield, especially as the club awaits Teun Koopmeiners from Atalanta. McKennie returned to team training yesterday after previously working out separately due to ongoing transfer discussions. His relationship with the club has recently improved, and Motta is starting to see him as an integral part of his plans. After rejecting several transfer offers, including one from Aston Villa, McKennie is now aiming to prove his fitness for selection for the opener against Como.
However, it’s clear that McKennie will not be among the starting players, a group that Motta has limited alternatives for. In defense and midfield, he has a couple of options, but if he opts for continuity with the 4-1-4-1 setup used in recent friendlies, Manuel Locatelli is likely to partner Douglas Luiz, with Khephren Thuram sitting in front of the defense.
On the flanks, Motta awaits the arrival of Nicolas Gonzalez from Fiorentina, with Timothy Weah likely to take the right side and Kenan Yildiz set to make his debut wearing the iconic number 10 shirt. If substitutions are necessary during the match, Motta will need to rely on the creativity of his bench.
In defense, five players are vying for four spots, with Gleison Bremer being a key player at the back. Federico Gatti is expected to partner him in central defense, while veteran captain Danilo is likely to feature. Andrea Cambiaso can play on both flanks, and Juan Cabal is available to start either as a left-back or a center-back, meaning those who do not begin the match could still see action in the second half.
Michele Di Gregorio will guard the goal, while Dusan Vlahovic is expected to lead the attacking line. Motta hopes that these injury issues are just a temporary challenge as he sets out on his Serie A journey, with the expectation of at least two new players added to the squad by the time they face Verona the following Monday.
