Wojciech Szczęsny had a game to forget against Sassuolo. He struggled through the game but capped the performance right at the end with an action that led to a comical own goal. In the 95th minute the shot-stopper played a risky pass to Federico Gatti, who tried to return the ball to his goalkeeper but only found an empty net, to seal a 4-2 loss for Juve.
In a press conference today, Max Allegri said that the Polish keeper will retain his place. “Szczęsny is Juventus’s first-choice keeper and he will play tomorrow,” were the words of the manager.
Szczęsny may find his short-term future to be secure but Gazzetta have reported that Juve are looking at other alternatives on the market. It is not only a performance-based decision, but also largely down to finances.
The Pole is one of the top earners at the Old Lady, and they are looking for a way to cut the wage bill. Mattia Perin could be sold, but he doesn’t earn near that of the number one keeper, so that is not the optimal solution.
The backdrop to all of this is also the fact that Juventus are eyeing Gianluigi Donnarumma. A deal for the Italian is unlikely till at least 2026, but it is certainly one to keep an eye out on.
Japtej Ghura | GIFN
