{"id":3790,"date":"2026-03-04T17:45:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/?p=3790"},"modified":"2026-03-04T17:45:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:45:44","slug":"spalletti-identifies-players-to-cut-in-2026-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/?p=3790","title":{"rendered":"Spalletti Identifies Players to Cut in 2026 Overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n                <span class=\"category meta-category\">All Stories<\/span><span class=\"category meta-category\">Juventus<\/span><span class=\"category meta-category\">Transfers<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-excerpt\">\n<p>Luciano Spalletti and Juventus are discussing a new two-year contract and future technical plans to avoid repeating the past mistakes.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">The honeymoon period for Luciano Spalletti at Juventus appears to be transitioning into a cold, calculated rebuilding phase.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">While the former Italy coach is expected to sign a new two-year contract during the upcoming international break, his commitment comes with a caveat: he wants total control over summer recruitment and a significant thinning of the current roster.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"9\"><b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Michele Di Gregorio and the Search for a World-Class No. 1<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10\">Perhaps the most shocking name on the \u201cexpendable\u201d list is Michele Di Gregorio.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10\">Despite being a major investment from Monza just a year ago, a recent downturn in form \u2013 highlighted by 13 goals conceded in a four-match stretch \u2013 has left Spalletti unconvinced.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\">Reports suggest Juventus are already eyeing a blockbuster replacement, with Liverpool\u2019s Alisson Becker and Atalanta\u2019s Marco Carnesecchi topping the wishlist.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\">For Di Gregorio, a summer exit now seems more likely than a fight for his spot, as the Old Lady demands immediate reliability between the sticks.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"wr_v05MckPE\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Michele Di Gregorio\u2019s BEST Saves of the Season | Serie A 2024\/25\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wr_v05MckPE?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"12\"><b data-path-to-node=\"12\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Summer Signings Who Failed to Launch: Openda and Zhegrova<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\">Juventus spent heavily in 2025 to bring in Lois Openda (\u20ac45m) and Edon Zhegrova (\u20ac15m), but neither has adapted to the tactical rigours of Serie A.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\">Openda, in particular, has seen his status plummet; even in the absence of Dusan Vlahovic and Jonathan David, Spalletti has infamously preferred playing Weston McKennie as a makeshift striker over the Belgian.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\">Vlahovic, meanwhile, has been linked with a move to West Ham with Paolo Di Canio chiming in on the potential transfer.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">Recouping the \u20ac60 million spent on this duo will be a \u201ctall order\u201d for Cristiano Giuntoli, but the club is reportedly open for business to free up the budget for a creative midfielder and a new star center-back.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"15\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Defensive Casualties: Juan Cabal and the Gatti Dilemma<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">In defence, the project is also stalling for several incumbents.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">Juan Cabal has struggled significantly since returning from an ACL tear, with his ability to play out from the back failing to meet Spalletti\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17\">Meanwhile, Federico Gatti finds himself in an awkward position.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17\">While a fan favourite for his grit, he is increasingly viewed as a backup option rather than a foundational piece for a Scudetto-winning side.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17\">If a high-level centre-back arrives this summer, Gatti may be forced to look elsewhere for regular minutes.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"18\"><b data-path-to-node=\"18\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Teun Koopmeiners: A Star at the Crossroads?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"19\">The most complex case remains Teun Koopmeiners.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"19\">While the Dutchman has performed better under Spalletti than his predecessor, he has yet to replicate the dominant levels he displayed at Atalanta that justified his \u20ac54m price tag.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"19\">Juventus isn\u2019t actively pushing him out, but the word in Turin is that they are open for business should a massive offer arrive from a Premier League club.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Teun Koopmeiners hadn\u2019t scored for Juve since the Club World Cup in June.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s got two goals in 32 minutes vs. Galatasaray \u26bd\ufe0f\u26bd\ufe0f <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZJOUkBNcUL\">pic.twitter.com\/ZJOUkBNcUL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 B\/R Football (@brfootball) <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/brfootball\/status\/2023827240057020640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"20\"><b data-path-to-node=\"20\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Spalletti\u2019s Vision for 2026\/27<\/b><\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"21\">Spalletti\u2019s goal is clear: he wants a leaner squad that is more tactically disciplined and cohesive.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"21\">The list of players to cut is not just about performance, but about building a war chest to sign the specific profiles he believes are missing \u2013 namely a creative \u201cmaestro\u201d in midfield and a more clinical strike force.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22\">As we approach the final months of the season, every match is now an audition.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22\">For those on the list, the time to change Spalletti\u2019s mind is running out.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.footitalia.com\/news\/juventus-spalletti-transfer-news-squad-overhaul-2026\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All StoriesJuventusTransfers Luciano Spalletti and Juventus are discussing a new two-year contract and future technical plans to avoid repeating the past mistakes. The honeymoon period for Luciano Spalletti at Juventus appears to be transitioning into a cold, calculated rebuilding phase. While the former Italy coach is expected to sign a new two-year contract during the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-spotlight-sugli-azzurri"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.matteocoachperformance.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}