Chivu surprised that Barcelona dropped Motta, reveals what Mourinho taught new Juve coach | OneFootball

Former Inter defender Christian Chivu is surprised Barcelona dropped Thiago Motta as a footballer and reveals the new Juventus coach learned how to use ‘authority and personality’ in the dressing room from José Mourinho.

Motta was announced as the new Juventus coach last month and will soon arrive in Turin after the holidays to begin the pre-season with the Bianconeri.

Chivu, a former teammate of Motta at Inter spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday about the ex-Italian midfielder who helped Bologna qualify for the 2024-25 Champions League last term.

“He had a big opportunity at Genoa, and he made the most of it. He did the same with Spezia and Bologna. Motta found the right dimensions to develop his footballing vision,” Chivu told the Pink Paper in an interview published on page six.

Chivu surprised that Barcelona dropped Thiago Motta

“As a footballer, he had clear ideas and saw the complexity of the modern game in a simple way. I asked myself: How could Barcelona drop a player like this?”

A product of the Barcelona academy, Motta played 147 games with the La Liga giants before playing in Serie A for Genoa and Inter.

During his time at the Meazza, he won the treble under Mourinho, so what did he learn from the Special One?

Chivu reveals what Thiago Motta learned from Mourinho

“The importance of having personality and authority to manage the group,” said Chivu.

Motta’s Bologna played “modern and organised football,” continued the former Romania international. “Thiago found a good balance between his principles and the players’ responsibility in making decisions.

“He knows what winning means, first as a player and then as a coach. He is aware that Juventus must accept some compromise, relying on young players to respect some financial guidelines.”

Chivu added that Motta’s Juventus will have the “same identity” as Bologna even if his former teammate “knows that he must adapt to the players’ characteristics.”

Chivu on Calafiori and Juve fighting for Serie A title

Chivu believes Motta will do “anything” to reunite with Riccardo Calafiori in Turin, but the latest reports suggest that the Italian defender will join Arsenal.

“He’d be very important, especially for building up from the back,” noted Chivu.

Juventus have already signed Douglas Luiz and will soon welcome Khephren Thuram and Michele Di Gregorio. Are the Bianconeri the main rival to Inter for the 2024-25 Serie A title?

“Juventus are doing important things to see if it’s possible. Inter are ahead of everyone else, so it won’t be easy, but Juve seem the only one that can really be near them, at least for now,” Chivu concluded.