Given Juventus’ more recent domination of the Italian Serie A, manager Massimiliano Allegri’s comments about the title race in the 2023/24 campaign have raised plenty of eyebrows amongst both Italian, and and fans of football in the wider world, as in the build up to the clash between Juve and the Nerazzurri later this month at the Allianz Stadium, he has claimed that they have been building a side to win the Scudetto for many years now.
There is not historically a lot of love lost between the two clubs, but when you look at things in the round, it does seem to be a bit of a bizarre comment from Allegri, even if there are obviously mind games being added to what is already a ferocious rivalry, as him stating that his own sides only aim this year is to finish in the top four, seems incredibly weak.
Given the layout of the league, there will be those who agree with him that Inter, AC and Napoli are more considered favourites this year, but you can certainly see why Inter directors have looked at his words and become a little non plussed.
Juve threw the boat and the sink at their tilt previously signing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, but Inter would strongly reference their financial difficulties, the fact they have had to rely on sensible and key free agents coming through door, as well as selling key players to raise funds like Romelu Lukaku, Achraf Hakimi, Andre Onana and Robin Gosens.
In that same period alone, Juve picked up big money signings with the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Gleison Bremer, Manuel Locatelli and Moise Kean coming through the door.
In fairness, the main claims come from La Gazzetta dello Sport, but the claims themselves are very much rumours in effect, and there is certainly nothing concrete in the suggestions that have been made. Given Allegri’s words though, it is very much an educated guess that it could have ruffled a few feathers amongst board rooms and dressing rooms of other Serie A clubs making their own title tilt when you look at the facts and make more direct comparisons.
But with their November 26 fixture beginning to edge ever nearer in the football calendar, you can guarantee that it is an opening barb that will certainly (and quickly) be returned in kind, and the mind games will not end there – and probably not until the final whistle has blown either.
