Zambrotta: Why Juventus should sign Tonali, but ‘wouldn’t have sacked Motta’ | OneFootball

Former Juventus defender Gianluca Zambrotta feels Juventus should try to sign Sandro Tonali in the summer, but insists he wouldn’t have sacked Thiago Motta.

The Bianconeri sit 5th in the Serie A table, but have collected four points in Igor Tudor’s first two games in charge.

The Croatian tactician replaced the sacked Thiago Motta in March after the Old Lady had dropped outside a Champions League spot.

Zambrotta, a former Juventus defender and an Italy 2006 World Cup winner, argued the Bianconeri should not have sacked Motta.

“I wouldn’t have sacked Motta because it was supposed to be a three-year project,” the former full-back told Gazzetta.

“The club asked him to qualify for the Champions League, and he was just one point below the top four. Motta paid a high price for eliminations from Coppa Italia and Champions League, and the seven goals conceded against Atalanta and Fiorentina. In the end, he also paid for Giuntoli’s choices. If you pick a young coach like Motta, you have to back him. On the other hand, I felt that the support from the management disappeared.”

Zambrotta: Why Juventus should sign Tonali, but ‘wouldn’t have sacked Motta’

FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 16: Head coach Thiago Motta of Juventus looks on during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and Juventus at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 16, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Sacking Motta, however, wasn’t Juventus’ only mistake, according to their former defender.

“I wouldn’t have sold Fagioli, who is having a great season at Fiorentina, just like Kean,” he said.

“They should have kept an experienced defender like Danilo. Both [Fagioli and Danilo] should have been treated differently by the club.”

Juventus are already planning to strengthen their squad for 2025-26, with Sandro Tonali and Ademola Lookman recently linked with moves to Turin.

Zambrotta seemed pleased to hear that the Bianconeri would be interested in signing the Italian midfielder, a former Milan star now at Newcastle.

“Yes, because he’s an important midfielder, as he’s proving in the Premier League,” he concluded.

“I agree on the need to strengthen the Italian core. It’s something that, in the long run, strengthens the club and the national team.”

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, April 9, 2025, page 19