Luciano Spalletti Says Juventus Badly Need A Striker Just Like Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund was poor against the Old Lady, but has caught the eye this season.
Luciano Spalletti has insisted Juventus are missing a brutish striker in the mould of Rasmus Hojlund.
Luciano Spalletti Wants Striker Like Rasmus Hojlund
The Old Lady cruised to a crucial 3-0 victory against Napoli on Sunday to move just one point behind the Champions League spots – and the Partenopei.
Jonathan David made the breakthrough in the first half, before Kenan Yildiz and Filip Kostic wrapped up the statement result late in the second period.
While Juve delivered an impressive performance, Spalletti still believes he is short on options in certain areas. He is particularly concerned with his attacking firepower, having failed to sign a new No 9 in this window.
Hojlund’s Napoli future is in doubt, but Spalletti badly wants a no-nonsense centre-forward with similar strengths.
“David is a strong player, and tonight he showed us how to withstand a physical duel,” he told Sky Sport.
“He won this duel, and in the penalty area there’s no space to attack; there’s space to close down. There’s no time to play, just moments.
“You put all your strength into that moment. Tonight he scored a goal like a top-class striker, challenging a defender who was in a position where he had to either foul or let him shoot.”
Spalletti added: “An attacking move? Then you need someone like Hojlund who catches it, puts it down, and passes it to someone.
“Those are 100-meter runs. Once someone clears the ball, you need to build it up, and that’s not easy. Sometimes we’re missing someone who can do that.”
Weston McKennie Could Play Up Front
Juventus wanted Jean-Philippe Mateta but missed out after being unwilling to meet Crystal Palace’s hefty price tag. They also look set to move on from Fenerbache’s Youssef En-Nesyri, who does not want to join on loan.
The Moroccan frontman is instead pushing for a permanent switch and could rejoin his former club Sevilla over the coming days. Giorgio Chiellini confirmed that, at least for now, the deal is off.
Should a new striker continue to prove elusive, Spalletti could call upon Weston McKennie as a backup.
“McKennie is an added attacker,” he said. “He’s one of the best centre forwards. He has an impressive jump. He attacks the depth like no other. He doesn’t play to be told he’s poor, he plays to be told he’s good.
“He doesn’t say, ‘I’m so unlucky,’ but the opposite. We also have him in addition to [Lois] Openda and David.”
Dan Davis
Dan is an experienced sports journalist and part-time lecturer. An expert on Serie A and Italian football, he has produced content for the likes of the Daily Mail, Reach PLC, GiveMeSport, FourFourTwo and GRV Media. While Channel 4's iconic Football Italia was a bit before his time, the nostalgia - and pastries - fuelled his love of all things Calcio.
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