Luciano Spalletti faces fan scrutiny on first day as Juventus manager
Luciano Spalletti was greeted by Juventus fans with an unusual demand on his first day as manager — to remove his tattoo of rivals Napoli’s club crest, reports BritPanorama.
The 66-year-old coach was unveiled this week as Juventus’ new head following the sacking of Igor Tudor after just 24 games in charge. He arrived at the club’s Continassa training complex on Thursday to begin his tenure.
Before he could even take his first session, a group of supporters reportedly called on him to erase the tattoo commemorating Napoli’s 2023 Serie A triumph, when he guided the club to their first league title in 33 years. According to Tuttomercatoweb, several Juventus fans urged the former Italy manager to cover the design or replace it with the famous ‘J’ emblem of their own club.
This plea highlights the deep rivalry between Juventus and Napoli, two of Italian football’s most passionate and historically opposed teams. Spalletti’s decision to get the Napoli crest inked on his arm came after his historic title win in Naples — a feat that defined his career and cemented his reputation as one of the country’s finest tacticians. Yet his move to Turin, the home of the very club that has long been Napoli’s greatest foe, has now placed that symbol under scrutiny.
Despite the controversy, Spalletti’s focus remains firmly on restoring Juventus to the summit of Italian and European football. The club currently sit seventh in Serie A, six points adrift of early leaders Napoli and Roma, another of his former teams.
In the Champions League, the Bianconeri are still searching for their first win after three games, leaving them in danger of a group-stage exit. Spalletti’s contract runs only until the end of the season, but reports in Italy suggest the deal will automatically renew if Juventus secure Champions League qualification.
The club issued a statement confirming his arrival, saying: “We are delighted to welcome a coach with such expertise and experience to the Bianconeri family. Welcome to Juventus and good luck, coach.”
His first test comes on Saturday with an away fixture against newly-promoted Cremonese, whose squad includes former England striker Jamie Vardy. Just three days later, Juventus host Sporting Lisbon in a must-win Champions League encounter.
Earlier in the week, when asked about the managerial vacancy in Turin before his appointment was made official, Spalletti had offered a playful response. “Whoever replaces Tudor will be lucky; he’ll certainly find a team he can manage,” he said. “Juventus is a great club with a great history. I think anyone would be happy to coach them; it could be the fortune of any coach.”
He also took the time to praise his predecessor, adding: “If I had to say something about Juventus, I’d gladly say it in favour of Tudor. I’ve met him and he seemed like a serious, valuable person. I’ve seen him work well on the bench, and he gave me the impression of a person of substance, someone who goes straight to the heart.”
As Spalletti prepares for his first match in charge, his new chapter in Turin begins under both pressure and expectation. For Juventus fans, the hope is that his tactical expertise — tattoo aside — will be enough to guide them back to the glory they once enjoyed. The challenge remains daunting, with Napoli flying high under Antonio Conte, signalling a fierce battle ahead for the crown.
