Gazzetta: Juventus wanted to sell Zhegrova, who was later excluded from the Europa League squad

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus wanted to sell Zhegrova this summer, but he rejected all offers, insisting on staying with the team. Now he has become one of Spalletti's best options, though he must be used carefully due to physical concerns.

In Juventus's difficult performance at Cagliari, Zhegrova was the bright spot. When he came on, Spalletti's team regained their rhythm and looked significantly more dangerous in attack. Spalletti deployed him as a tactical weapon when the team needed a turnaround, but he won't be able to use him in the Europa League. Last summer, the club tried to move him in the transfer market, making the decision to exclude him from the Europa League squad seem genuinely problematic. Juventus has little justification for this choice.

The decision

Zhegrova struggled with physical fitness issues last season. In the first half, Tudor rarely used him; from late November onward, Spalletti reintegrated him into the squad and showcased his quality on several occasions. However, the need to manage his playing time meant he couldn't be relied upon for extended stretches. Last summer, facing good offers and financial pressures, the club considered parting with him. However, the player rejected the proposals and was unwilling to accept moves to Saudi Arabia or other similar leagues at the time. Instead, despite missing out on the Europa League squad, he chose to contribute to the team and support Spalletti within Serie A.

Mr. Zepeta

The Cagliari match vindicated this choice. In previous appearances, he had already demonstrated his technical ability and vision. According to the nickname "Mr. Zepeta" that Spalletti gave him last season, Zhegrova is effective because he can manipulate the ball in tight spaces and inject unpredictability into the attack. His physical limitations and the need for careful management mean he cannot directly compete with Conceição, who plays the same position. To some extent, this suits the Portuguese player well: he has a reliable rotation option to share the workload while still needing to maintain his performance level. The only disappointment is missing the Europa League, where Zhegrova could have provided quality and experience.

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