Del Piero advises Juventus to give Alajbegovic time to grow, avoid pressure

FolioPitch.com – 10 August 2026 | Alessandro Del Piero, the former Juventus captain, has given his thoughts on the Bianconeri’s upcoming season, urging the fans not to put too much pressure on new signing Kerim Alajbegovic. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Del Piero expressed his excitement about the team’s work under Luciano Spalletti during the off-season.

‘I’m sure Spalletti will know how to manage him’ – Del Piero’s words of wisdom for Alajbegovic

Del Piero sat down to talk all things Juventus in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. He spoke about the team’s pre-season tour in Australia, where he was part of the squad. The Bianconeri legend spent two years with Sydney FC between 2012 and 2014 towards the end of his career and said that ‘it is very pleasant’ to be back down under.

‘I have great memories of that experience, they welcomed me and my family so well. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, but then we adapted, also thanks to this large Italian community that helps with integration. The food, the weather, all the sights, it was really amazing,’ he said.

Del Piero then switched his focus to Juventus and what he expects from Luciano Spalletti’s side compared to last season. ‘There’s continuity compared to last year, both in terms of the squad and the coaching staff. The summer is an important but difficult period because you need to show the fuel that you will require during the season, but with so much travelling, it’s hard to train at the top level. The thing I hope most is that Juventus acts like a team, that’s it,’ he said.

Del Piero was also asked about Juve’s new recruits, Randal Kolo Muani and Kerim Alajbegovic. ‘Kolo Muani did well during the period he already had with Juve. And I notice that he was welcomed back with a lot of enthusiasm, so that’s good. The investment on Alajbegovic, on the other hand, makes me particularly happy. First of all because we’re talking about an exciting young talent who has a lot of potential. It’s also nice that such a highly-rated young lad has chosen the Italian division to develop. We’re getting used to them being stolen away from us. Now, let’s not load him up with too much pressure. Let’s give him the time to grow and adapt. I’m sure that Spalletti will know how to manage him in this sense.’

Del Piero is putting a lot of confidence in Spalletti this summer. ‘He doesn’t need my trust, though, nor the trust of anyone else because he has a great CV. That’s not the big thing,’ he said. When asked to follow up on that, he responded: ‘It’s about finding the right balance for the team. Juventus performed well in lots of games last season. Now they have to improve on consistency. The players are all saying that they’re happy to be going into the season with him, so the prospects seem good to me.’

Lastly, Del Piero was asked if he will ever return to Juventus in a directorship or managerial capacity. ‘I’ve been asked this question a thousand times and I only ever answer like this: Only God knows what will happen. For the moment, I’m enjoying this role that the club has asked me to do, because as a ‘legend’, I’m still in contact with lots of different people. My bond with Juventus and its colours goes far beyond the job I have.’

In conclusion, Del Piero’s words of wisdom for Alajbegovic are a timely reminder for Juventus fans to be patient and give the young player time to grow and adapt. With Spalletti at the helm, the prospects for the team look good, and Del Piero’s confidence in the coach is well-placed.