Di Canio: ‘Vlahovic is not an intelligent footballer’

Former Juventus and Lazio striker Paolo Di Canio believes Dusan Vlahovic is not being ‘footballingly intelligent’: If he hasn’t broken through in Turin 75% it’s his fault.” The Serbian international has struggled for form since making a big-money move from Fiorentina to Juve, spending much of 2023 recovering from injury or on the bench. Speaking with Tuttosport, Di Canio explained why he thinks the fault lies entirely with the player for his failings with the Bianconeri, citing a lack of footballing intelligence to the players game:

“If he hasn’t broken through in Turin 75% it’s his fault. If you are strong, no matter how frustrated you may be by the few goal scoring opportunities, you have to apply yourself, you have to commit yourself to managing the few balls that come your way.

“In Florence he was ‘on fire’, he always believed in it because he was very involved, he played with joy. With Juve it’s obvious that everything is different, also in terms of pressure, but I’ve discovered weaknesses in him, in his choices, in not being footballingly intelligent when he finds difficulties.

“I’m crude, direct: when I say he has no footballing intelligence, I’m not saying he’s not good and that he can’t play for Juve. But he must know how to do the simple things, because then he not only puts his teammates in a position to do well, but also to be able to get the ball back to him in the best way.”