Giuntoli’s hard line sees Bonucci out, McKennie back

In a stark summer reshuffle at Juventus, former CEO Andrea Giuntoli confirmed that Leonardo Bonucci and Federico Chiesa are out of the squad while Weston McKennie has been reinstated after renewing his contract, signalling a return to the club’s uncompromising player‑exit policy. The move reflects Juventus’s broader strategy to streamline the roster ahead of the new campaign.

Carnevali mirrors Comolli’s approach

The management of new sporting director Fabio Carnevali with players not fitting Juventus’s plans will be more similar to that of former director Giuseppe Comolli. Unlike his predecessor Giuntoli, who kept everyone on the roster until the transfer window closed, Carnevali will aim to sell surplus players without forcing decisions, and the same approach will be applied at Juve.

Giuntoli’s hard‑line actions in 2023 and 2024

No treatment will be conditioned by the decision to escort a player out, as demonstrated in 2023 with Bonucci and in 2024 with Chiesa and McKennie. Carnevali will try to offload those without space, but will not pressure the group’s management.

In the summer of 2023, Giuntoli arrived late to the market to support manager Massimiliano Allegri and made his first tough move by visiting Bonucci’s home before the defender’s holiday return, informing the former captain that he was excluded from the project and should train outside the squad until a transfer materialised.

This eased the technical staff’s workload on the first team but complicated relationships and market dynamics, according to internal accounts.

The following summer, under new coach Thiago Motta, Giuntoli maintained his hard line: Federico Chiesa was transferred on the final day of the window, while Weston McKennie accepted a contract renewal and was reinstated into the squad. The same strict stance persisted during the season, even seeing captain Danilo excluded during the January market.