In June, Juventus appointed Thiago Motta as their new manager, following his successful stint with Bologna, where he led them to a commendable fifth place in Serie A last season. Since taking over at Juventus, Motta has made it clear that significant changes are underway. His latest decision, revealed through the announcement of the squad for the pre-season camp in Germany, underscores his intent to reshape the team.
Notably absent from the pre-season camp list are several key players, including goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, as well as defenders Gleison Bremer, Douglas Luiz, Federico Chiesa, and Weston McKennie. While some of these players are sidelined due to injuries or are being given extra recovery time following their participation in Euro 2024 and Copa America, Szczesny’s exclusion is particularly striking. It signals a clear message from Motta that the 34-year-old Polish international’s future at Juventus may be in jeopardy.
Szczesny, who is currently on holiday in Marbella with his family after representing Poland in Euro 2024, finds himself in a challenging position. His primary focus during this break is now on securing a new club. Discussions with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr had been in progress, and a two-year contract worth €19 million per year was reportedly agreed upon. However, the deal fell through due to disagreements over the transfer fee.
Despite this setback, Szczesny remains a sought-after player. Monza’s chief executive, Adriano Galliani, has expressed interest in the veteran goalkeeper. Galliani stated, “I haven’t spoken directly with the player yet, but he is aware of our interest. I’ll be in touch with him soon to discuss further.”
Szczesny joined Juventus in 2017 from Arsenal, where he had spent two successful seasons on loan at Roma. During his tenure with Juventus, he has made 252 appearances and helped the club secure eight trophies, including three Serie A titles. His time in Italy has been a successful chapter in his career, despite the initial difficulties he faced after leaving Arsenal, where he had been a part of the team since 2006.
Reflecting on his departure from Arsenal, Szczesny recently shared his emotional experience. “I cried when I left Arsenal,” he confessed on a Polish podcast. “It was the end of my dream of playing for this club my whole life. If I could rewrite my career, I would probably have spent it only at Arsenal.
During his time with Arsenal, Szczesny made 181 first-team appearances and won the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015. His career with the Gunners was marked by a notable incident in 2015, when he was fined £20,000 and dropped from the team after being caught smoking in the showers following a defeat to Southampton, an episode that strained his relationship with then-manager Arsène Wenger.
As Juventus prepares for the new season, Szczesny’s future remains uncertain. With Motta’s plans clearly signaling a potential shift in the squad, the veteran goalkeeper faces an important period as he seeks to find his next destination and continue his illustrious career..
