´Nothing concrete´ behind Chiesa to Juventus links, says Spalletti

Luciano Spalletti is unaware of the source of the rumours linking Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa to a return to Juventus during the January transfer window.

Chiesa swapped Turin for Merseyside in 2024 but has failed to make an impact at Anfield, with the Italian struggling with several injury issues under Arne Slot.

The 28-year-old has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, three of which have been starts, while also registering two goals and three assists for the Reds.

But he has only been featured for 469 minutes, with reports suggesting Chiesa is searching for regular game time ahead of Italy’s potential World Cup involvement.

Chiesa played 131 times for Juventus across his four-year stint with the club between 2020 and 2024, the first two seasons of which were on loan from fellow Serie A side, Fiorentina.

He scored 32 goals and provided 20 assists for the Bianconeri, though Spalletti said a potential return for the wantaway attacker was wide of the mark.

“I am pleased you are giving me this news, seeing as we haven’t even had a meeting yet on the transfer market, but it’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Spalletti told reporters.

“For the moment, it’s just thrown out there, but absolutely nothing concrete behind it.”

Juventus have made a strong start to 2026, following up their draw with Lecce with a resounding 3-0 triumph over Sassuolo last time out.

They sit fifth Serie A and know a victory at Allianz Stadium over Cremonese on Monday will continue to pile the pressure on those in the top four ahead of a huge month for the club.

Following the clash with Cremonese, they face Cagliari in the top flight next Saturday.

That match is followed up by a Champions League meeting with Benfica before the Bianconeri take on Serie A title hopefuls Napoli, with a European encounter away to Monaco ending their January slate.

Spalletti, however, believes his team still have plenty more to give.

“The last two performances have been great, but we still need to understand certain things, and do them as quickly as possible,” Spalletti added.

“Because there are times when our attitude is no better than the bare minimum.

“We tend to only show 80% of our abilities and, no more, we don’t go determined enough into the challenges.

“We had three or four corners where we didn’t even manage to get it into the box.

“When you are away from home, you can’t be so wasteful, as we have players who are so good in the air and aren’t getting the service on set plays.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Juventus – Jonathan David

David could score in two consecutive club appearances in all competitions for the first time since March 2025 with Lille, following his goal against Sassuolo in his most recent match.

On average per 90 minutes in all competitions, the Canadian has attempted 2.9 shots (1.6 on target) and had 50 touches (10 in the opposition box) in his 14 appearances under Spalletti, compared to 1.8 shots (0.3 on target) and 33 touches (four in the opposition box) in his 10 games under Igor Tudor.

Cremonese – Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy, who scored in the reverse fixture against Juventus, could become the fifth Englishman after Joe Baker, Gerry Hitchens, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham to score away against Juventus in Serie A.

He would also be only the second Englishman in history to net both home and away against the Bianconeri in the same Serie A season, after Hitchens (for Inter in 1961-62).

MATCH PREDICTION: JUVENTUS WIN

Juventus have won all eight of their home Serie A matches against Cremonese, with an aggregate score of 23-3. Among teams against whom the Bianconeri have a 100% home winning record in the top-flight, only against Foggia have they played more games (11).

They have also enjoyed a recent revival under Spalletti. Juventus have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions (D1 L1), as many victories as they had in their previous 21 games combined (W8 D8 L5).

Juventus are unbeaten in their last 13 Serie A home matches (W9 D4), but they have conceded in each of their last three. They have not gone four consecutive home games in the competition without a clean sheet since between January and March 2024.

Cremonese, meanwhile, have lost seven of their last eight Serie A matches against sides starting the day in the top four, including each of their last four, winning the other (2-1 against Roma in February 2023).

They have also failed to score in their last three Serie A away matches (D1 L2) and have only once before gone four consecutive away games in the competition without finding the net, between December 1991 and February 1992, with the fourth match of that run played in Turin, but against Torino.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Juventus – 72.4%

Draw – 16.5%

Cremonese – 11.1%