Juventus icon Fabrizio Ravanelli believes that Kenan Yildiz, Gleison Bremer, and Francisco Conceiçao should form the “strong core” of the Bianconeri’s team for the 2026-27 season. However, he expressed disappointment with Jonathan David, stating, “I don’t think he’s a player you can rely on to win Champions League titles or Scudetti.”
Ravanelli, a former Juventus and Italy striker who won the Champions League with the club in 1996, shared his views on the team’s offensive challenges this season. Despite Jonathan David being Juventus’s third-highest scorer across all competitions in 2025-26, Ravanelli feels the Canadian international has not demonstrated sufficient quality in his debut season in Turin.
“It was a negative season,” Ravanelli told Gazzetta. “He has scored some goals, but I don’t think he’s a player you can rely on to win Champions League titles or Scudetti.”
He elaborated on David’s struggles, suggesting that the transition from the French league to Juventus has been difficult. “He has paid a high price for the leap in quality. Playing at Juventus and in the French league, without too much pressure, is not the same as making a difference at Juventus. The weight of the shirt is much more difficult to bear, and you need great personality. The difference between a champion and a good player nowadays lies in personality, character, and determination. You need to have these qualities to play at Juventus, or you’ll struggle.”
The former striker also commented on other new signings, Edon Zhegrova and Lois Openda, who joined Juventus last summer alongside David. Ravanelli suggested that Zhegrova possesses more personality than the others.
“I think Zhegrova has more personality than others,” Ravanelli stated. “Since Spalletti’s arrival, David and Openda have always given me the impression that they don’t really want to take on too much responsibility. On the other hand, Zhagrova is someone worth continuing to invest in because he has real quality. I’d love to see him in a positive Juventus side and in a winning environment. He’s the kind of player who embraces responsibility, not someone who, after failing one dribble, shies away from trying another. He has a very strong personality.”
Concluding his thoughts, Ravanelli emphasized the importance of identifying key players for the future. “I think there are three or four players Juventus can build on,” he said. “Yildiz, Bremer, and Conceiçao must be retained to build the strong core of the team.”
