After Juventus’ disappointing 1-0 loss to Stuttgart in the Champions League, coach Thiago Motta canceled the team’s scheduled training session to allow for reflection and regrouping. As the Bianconeri prepare for the Derby d’Italia against Inter Milan, Motta later called the players back for a group dinner to assess their performance and restore team morale. Meanwhile, Juventus scouts are in Brazil, closely monitoring Flamengo defender Léo Ortiz as a potential replacement for the injured Gleison Bremer.
Juventus Scouts Brazil for Bremer’s Replacement
Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has allegedly dispatched scouts to Brazil to evaluate Flamengo defender Léo Ortiz, who is emerging as the top choice to replace the injured Gleison Bremer.
Juventus Send Scouts to Brazil to Watch Léo Ortiz
Reports from Tuttosport and Calciomercato.com suggest that Giuntoli has sent a representative to South America on his behalf, and according to Thursday’s update, they maintain a strong working relationship with their Brazilian associates.
The Juventus representative is in Brazil to observe Ortiz, who joined Flamengo for approximately €7m earlier this year. The 28-year-old has contributed one goal and two assists in 33 competitive matches since his arrival.
Ortiz spent most of his professional career at Bragantino, which was acquired by Red Bull in 2019.
Ortiz also holds Italian citizenship, meaning that if he joins Serie A, he will not take up one of the limited non-EU spots in the squad.
While Ortiz is a player highly valued by Giuntoli and Juventus, negotiations with Flamengo are unlikely to be straightforward.
Juventus have limited budget flexibility for January unless they sell other players first. Flamengo is not open to negotiating a discount, as Ortiz joined less than a year ago and is under contract until December 2028.
Thiago Motta Cancels Juventus Training After Stuttgart Loss
Juventus coach Thiago Motta reportedly cancelled Juventus’s recovery session on Wednesday, following Tuesday’s disappointing 1-0 loss at home to VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League, but later called his players back in to regroup after their first loss of the season, according to reports in Italy.
Juventus endured their first defeat of the 2024-25 season and their first competitive match under Thiago Motta, losing 1-0 at home to Stuttgart in the Champions League after El Bilal Toure scored in the 92nd minute.
Italian outlets have called the loss Juventus’ worst performance of the season, raising concerns as several key players are sidelined ahead of their Serie A match against Inter on Sunday.
To help the team recover from the Stuttgart defeat, Thiago Motta reportedly canceled the recovery training session scheduled for Wednesday morning.
The Bianconeri coach, Thiago Motta, reportedly decided to give his team a day to reflect on what went wrong in their disappointing Champions League defeat to Stuttgart. With the team still reeling from the loss, he felt it was crucial to take some time to carefully analyze the mistakes made in the match and understand how to improve and strategize for the upcoming Derby d’Italia in Serie A against Inter Milan over the weekend. This break in the usual training schedule was also seen as a way to regroup mentally before another challenging fixture.
Later that evening, Motta brought the players together for a group dinner. This gathering was intended to provide a space for the team to collectively assess their performance against Stuttgart, share their thoughts, and reflect on what went wrong. It was also an opportunity to rebuild morale and restore the team spirit that had been affected by their first loss of the season. Motta hoped that the evening would allow the players to reconnect, bond, and refocus on the challenges ahead.
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