Damien Comolli Press Conference | OneFootball

Around a week after starting his adventure as Juventus' General Manager, Damien Comolli met with journalists at the Allianz Stadium to discuss a wide range of topics.

Before the press conference began, however, Maurizio Scanavino, Chief Executive Officer of Juventus, took the floor.

“Today, we officially welcome Damien Comolli, our new General Manager. He will be an important figure who will strengthen the club ahead of this season and those to come. He will work closely with Giorgio Chiellini, who will take on the role of Director of Football Strategy.”

The following were Damien Comolli's first words.

“I would like to clarify a few points before taking questions. Igor Tudor will be our coach for next season and not just for the Club World Cup. He will lead the first team for the 2025/2026 season and, I hope, beyond that. I remember it perfectly when I met him in Ligue 1. Even then, I was impressed by the intensity he brought to his Marseille side. He did an extraordinary job there, but I repeat that what struck me most was the resilience of his team, the physical and mental strength of those players.

“Before talking about Giorgio Chiellini, I would like to thank the Chairman, Gianluca Ferrero, for the welcome he has given me. Moving on to Giorgio (Chiellini), he will have a strategic role, not just a role focused on the pitch but also off it. He will also be a key figure in the commercial sphere. There are several aspects that we are working on together. Giorgio and I will move from one area to another and discuss things on a daily basis. We have also set up a Football Strategy Committee, of which Giorgio will be a member.

“We will have a Sporting Director who will be responsible for transfer dealings and will also be part of the committee mentioned above, with a focus on the youth sector. There will also be a Technical Director who will have other responsibilities and will also report to me. This is the best possible structure for our club. We want to take our time to choose the right people for these two key positions. Having two separate figures is very important because modern football is becoming increasingly global and the demands are growing.

“I am delighted to announce that we have reached an agreement with PSG to extend Kolo Muani's loan. I spoke to him directly after the UEFA Nations League match between France and Spain and I can say that he will play with us during the Club World Cup. We are working with the French club to extend the loan for the 2025/2026 season as well, and the player has expressed his desire to continue his adventure with Juventus.

“Last but not least, I would like to congratulate the Women's First Team on their incredible results last season. I am a huge fan of women's football.”

KEYWORD: ENTHUSIASM

“I am constantly enthusiastic. Every morning, I wake up excited about this new adventure I have embarked on. I have always followed this club with great admiration and that is one of the reasons why I am here today. As for the team, some players have returned from international duty and the others will be back in the next few days. I can't wait to meet them all. I think I have an idea of what the team can offer. The team that takes to the pitch is important, but there is another team that is just as important that doesn't take to the pitch and works behind the scenes. Going to the Club World Cup, this concept will be fundamental: we will have to represent Juventus.

FIRST MEETING WITH THE OWNERS

“The first time I met the owners, I said that I would do everything to try to win every competition we played in. That doesn't mean we'll succeed, but that has to be the ambition. When you wear the Juventus jersey, you have to take to the pitch to win every time. I want to convey my passion to the club, but I know it's already there and I'll make sure it stays strong.

THE SQUAD

“We talked about the current squad, obviously taking Tudor's approach into account. There are certainly adjustments to be made, but I can tell you that there will be no radical changes. I spoke with Dusan Vlahovic just last week. He's a top player. Now I'll wait for him and discuss his situation, his intentions and his relationship with the club in more detail.

AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH

"I have been working with data for 25 years now, I have a background in data analysis. I have never come across a more rational approach than that linked to data analysis. We will use data in different areas; it will guide us in measuring the strength of our team compared to our opponents, but data will also help us manage our business strategy. It is fundamental at all levels: it is part of my life and I know exactly how it works because I have used it in my previous experiences.

CREATING A STRONG IDENTITY

“I think identity is fundamental in the current sports industry. We are in the entertainment business, we gift emotions, but it is important to create a strong identity. The “moneyball” model aims to rationalise a very irrational industry like football. This model has helped me make the right, considered choices, based on careful evaluation. We mustn't be afraid of this association between data and football because it can prove useful. My obsession is to try to win, but also to try to improve every day to gain an advantage over other teams, and for me, the best way to do that is to use data.

DAMIEN'S CONTRIBUTION

“I have always tried to contribute wherever I have been. I want to do the same at Juventus and, more generally, for Italian football. If Juventus is successful, it will also help Italian football to grow. If I can contribute to Italian football in any way, I will do so through Juventus.”