Juventus boss slams transfer policy: If we bought a dog we’d give it €3.5m!

Robin Bairner

• 11 Feb 2023 14:45 GMT
• 3 min read

Juventus’ 2022/23 season has been mired in controversy because of a financial scandal that saw key figures at the club, including president Andrea Agnelli, resign.

The Turin giants were docked 15 points in Serie A, a decision that means it is highly unlikely that they will qualify for Champions League football next season.

But while the Italian League’s punishment has been handed out, there is an ongoing investigation into the club, which is headed by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office.

MORE: Juventus scandal: Resignations, Ronaldo and relegation?

Known as the Prisma investigation, this is studying allegations of falsified capital gains and market manipulation through secret player wage payments.

Prisma investigation leaks

Corriere della Sera released details of leaks in the case, including a comment from Federico Cherubini, who blamed sporting director Fabio Paratici for allowing the wage bill to spiral.

Former CEO Maurizio Arrivabene told investigators on 29 November, 2021: “I had called Cherubini, telling him not to spend a lira more than what was budgeted. I think Agnelli trusts me because he considers me honest. And it’s enough to read the last balance sheets, surely there was economic tension, not financial tension.”

MORE: Juventus' 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Cherubini, meanwhile, had Paratici in his sights.

“Our worst player earns as much as Atalanta‘s best. Duvan Zapata gets €1.8m… if we bought a dog, we would give him €3.5m. We were arrogant in the market, because the Fabio of five years earlier didn’t sign Higuain for €90m, he signed Gabriel Jesus for €10m, and made him a €90m player,” he said.

On top of this, Cherubini stood against the decision to sign Federico Chiesa.

“Federico Chiesa does not seem to me the profile of a player who can stay many years at Juve, due to his entourage very much looking for substantial economic increase,” he said.

Meanwhile, Agnelli appears to have acknowledged Juve’s problems.

“If I put up with, from 2010 when I arrived to today, the crap we have done in the last three days of the transfer market - we have thrown €60-70m down the drain - I’d tell you so,” he said.

Juventus’ problems, it seems, are not over.