Former Juventus executive Maurizio Arrivabene has opened up about his experience in the club’s management, shedding light on the difficult situation he encountered upon his arrival. In a recent interview with Corriere dello Sport (via JuveNews), Arrivabene provided insights into the financial challenges and strategic decisions that shaped his tenure at the Italian giants.
Arrivabene began by explaining his initial role at Juventus: “When I first joined the board, I was a director without specific responsibilities, and due to Covid, we were meeting via video conference. At that time, the club’s strategy was focused on significant expansion, which had begun earlier with the acquisition of Ronaldo. The goal was to win the Champions League and establish a solid, lasting presence among Europe’s elite clubs. Consequently, more acquisitions were made, but then Covid complicated matters.”
He went on to describe the situation he faced when he officially started his executive role: “I began my work as an executive on July 1, 2021, and found a rather challenging situation due to previous investments. Obviously, the pandemic had exacerbated the problems, and the costs of very expensive contracts had created a quite difficult situation.”
Addressing the criticism he faced, Arrivabene explained his approach: “What was I supposed to do, go on TV and say we made a mistake by spending too much? Can you imagine the reaction from fans and media? Instead, I quietly rolled up my sleeves and got to work. That year, thanks to some sales and the acquisition of only two players, Locatelli and Kean, we had a modest transfer market, which also drew criticism.”
When asked about the ongoing legal issues surrounding Juventus, particularly regarding capital gains, Arrivabene expressed his faith in the justice system: “I continue to believe in justice. We’ll see what the European court says. Regarding the indictment for Juventus’ capital gains: I believe in justice.”
Arrivabene also confirmed that he maintains contact with former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, stating, “Yes, of course, I still keep in touch and meet with Andrea Agnelli.”
