Juventus forward Jérémie Boga was among the players not called up by coach Luciano Spalletti for the club's pre-season friendly against Nice, as the Bianconeri ran out 2-0 winners in their third summer fixture. Boga's absence placed him in a group that also included Yildiz, Perin, Bremer, Conceiçao, McKennie, Thuram, David, and Ekhator — a crowded list that raises legitimate questions about his standing in the squad hierarchy heading into 2025-26.
The timing is pointed. Spalletti has publicly acknowledged that Juventus made poor signings in recent years, a candid admission that frames every fringe player's position as genuinely uncertain rather than procedurally secure. For Boga, 29, that uncertainty carries particular weight: his AI overall rating of 72 out of 100 with a potential ceiling of 58 suggests the analytical models see him as a player already past his developmental peak, one whose value is fixed rather than appreciating. In a squad being actively reassessed, that profile invites scrutiny.
His numbers from 14 Serie A appearances last season offer a more nuanced picture. Four goals at an average match rating of 7.10 indicate a player who contributes meaningfully when selected — the rating, in particular, points to consistent rather than sporadic involvement. Zero assists across those appearances does suggest a tendency to finish moves rather than create them, which limits his tactical versatility in a system that typically demands wide forwards to function as both outlet and connector.
Juventus sit sixth in the table on 68 points from 37 matches, a record of 19 wins, 11 draws, and 7 defeats that reflects a side capable of solidity without yet threatening the summit. With 59 goals scored across the campaign, the attack has been functional rather than prolific, and Spalletti's willingness to name Boga among the non-convocati — even in pre-season — signals that the Ivorian winger must compete hard for minutes rather than assume them.
The squad's depth at forward positions, combined with Spalletti's stated intent to correct past recruitment errors, means Boga enters the new campaign needing to impose himself in training before he can impose himself on matches. His four goals last season are a foundation, not a guarantee.