Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio enters the 2025-26 preseason with his starting position under genuine scrutiny, as Luciano Spalletti's coaching staff has identified the position as a priority for reinforcement ahead of the new campaign.
The situation carries real weight. Juventus finished the previous Serie A season sixth, accumulating 68 points across 37 matches — a respectable haul, but one that leaves the Bianconeri outside the top tier of Italian football. Conceding 32 goals across the campaign is a defensively solid return, yet Spalletti has made clear that the goalkeeping position requires upgrading. Names including Marco Carnesecchi, Atubolu, and Suzuki have been linked to the club as potential targets. Di Gregorio, 29, is not being pushed out the door — Spalletti has publicly defended him — but the manager's position on the need for a new goalkeeper has not shifted.
Di Gregorio's numbers from his 30 Serie A appearances last season tell a story of quiet competence rather than decisive impact. An average rating of 7.00 across those matches reflects a goalkeeper who performed his duties reliably, and the 32 goals conceded across the full squad's defensive effort is not a damning figure. His AI overall score of 74 out of a potential 76 suggests a player close to his ceiling — which, depending on the ambitions of a club targeting European football, may be precisely the issue Spalletti is wrestling with.
The pre-season has added further texture to the picture. Juventus lost 2-1 to Inter in a friendly, a result that gave Spalletti the opportunity to assess new arrivals Kerim Alajbegovic and Randal Kolo Muani in competitive conditions. Spalletti noted that Inter were more of a team than Juventus at this stage of preparation — a frank assessment that signals the squad still needs work in multiple areas, not just between the posts.
Alessandro Del Piero, the club's most iconic figure, urged patience with the new arrivals, cautioning against placing excessive pressure on Alajbegovic and Kolo Muani early in their Juventus careers. The sentiment applies equally to Di Gregorio, who has done little wrong but finds himself caught between a manager who values him and a club that believes it needs more.
If Juventus secure a new first-choice goalkeeper before the season begins, Di Gregorio's role shifts fundamentally. If they do not, he carries the weight of a position the coaching staff has publicly flagged as insufficient — a difficult place from which to build confidence.