Cristiano Giuntoli has joined Juventus as their sporting director after leaving Serie A champions Napoli.
The 51-year-old has left the Partenopei after eight years of service in which he helped build a squad that won the Serie A title last season.
Giuntoli made Napoli a force to reckon with in Europe with excellent captures.
He played football in Serie C and D, appearing for Prato, Colligiana, Latina, Imperia, Sanremese and Savona. He hung up his boots at the age of 36 before moving upstairs.
The Florence-born transfer chief began his sporting director career at Spezia, with whom he won promotion to Serie B.
He moved to Carpi, where he achieved four promotions in five seasons before moving to Napoli in 2015.
When Napoli legends Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens and Kalidou Koulibaly left the club, he masterminded the signings of Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae to replace them.
He was also instrumental in signing Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka and many more. This core of players led the club to its first title in 33 years.
Giuntoli’s ability to identify top talents has earned him a massive reputation in his native Italy. He will hope to use his skills to re-establish the Bianconeri.
Following a ten-point deduction for shady transfer-tax dealings, Juventus missed out on the Champions League. They will play in the Europa Conference League next term.
Their financial situation does not give them enough funds to work with, leaving the new sporting director with plenty to do.
He will work with his new right-hand man Giovanni Manna to lighten the wage bill as they face the post-Andrea Agnelli era.
They are already working on their first signing, with Juventus interested in signing Spezia full-back Emil Holm.
