Juventus have named 18-year-old centre-forward Arman Durmisi as their lone striker for Saturday evening’s pre-season friendly against Standard Liege in Belgium, with senior forward Lois Openda relegated to the bench amid reports of an imminent departure.
The match kicked off at 19:00 BST in Belgium, giving coach Luciano Spalletti his first substantial examination of the summer. Yet the Bianconeri remain significantly under-strength, with several established stars unavailable due to extended holidays or fitness concerns.
Gleison Bremer, Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao and Jonathan David are all missing from the squad. Douglas Luiz does return to the engine room, partnering Manuel Locatelli in central midfield, while Vasilije Adzic and Jeremie Boga operate in support of Durmisi within a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Opportunity for youth amid transfer uncertainty
Durmisi’s selection highlights the acute attacking shortage facing Spalletti during the early weeks of pre-season. The teenager leads the line ahead of Openda, who is included in the matchday squad despite being on the verge of completing a season-long loan switch to Lyon.
Earlier this week, reports indicated that Spalletti has become increasingly frustrated by the lack of reinforcements at his disposal. The Italian is said to feel he has only three or four regular starters available for these initial fixtures, forcing him to rely heavily on academy prospects and peripheral squad members.
The defensive unit offers greater experience, with Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly forming a back three in front of Michele Di Gregorio. Andrea Cambiaso and 17-year-old Adin Licina provide width as wing-backs.
Confirmed line-ups
Standard Liege: Epolo; Mortensen, Hautekiet, Karamoko, Drammeh, Fossey, Ilaimaharitra, Trouillet, Nielsen, Abid, Nkada.
Substitutes: Pirard, Dierckx, Kokora, Sy, Lawrence, Spoden, Mohr, Touzghar, El Hankouri, Nguene, Ayensa, Mitongo.
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Douglas Luiz, Licina; Adzic, Boga; Durmisi.
Substitutes: Perin, Celik, Openda, Miretti, Pinsoglio, Rugani, J.Mario, Arthur, Cabal, Owusu, Gil Puche, Oboavwoduo, Elimoghale.
Pre-season priorities
The fixture represents a vital opportunity for fringe players to impress before the competitive campaign begins. With Openda’s exit looming and Durmisi thrust into the spotlight, Juventus may need to accelerate their recruitment efforts to satisfy Spalletti’s demands for greater depth.
The experimental nature of the selection underscores the challenges facing the squad at this stage of the summer, with fitness and availability determining opportunities for the club’s younger talents to stake a claim for senior minutes.