Zambrotta: 'I would have done everything to keep Vlahovic' - Juventus and the 100 million euro problem

There is a moment I remember from my playing days: when the ball rolled on the Allianz Stadium turf, the noise of the stands seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second before erupting. But tonight, as Juventus host AC Milan, that silent moment may last longer — because both teams are facing a match that could define their entire season. Former great Gianluca Zambrotta, who wore the shirts of both clubs, has just made controversial statements to La Gazzetta dello Sport. He did not hesitate to criticize Juventus' decision to let Dusan Vlahovic leave, while questioning the effectiveness of the new striking duo: Randal Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade. "I always saw him as a true number nine," Zambrotta said of Vlahovic. "I would have done everything to keep him. If he wanted to leave on a free transfer, that is another matter." That statement cuts deep into the wounds of Juventus fans. According to statistics from the analysis, Kolo Muani and Woltemade have only scored a combined 5 goals in 2026 — a meager figure compared to the estimated value of over 100 million euros for both. It is a painful equation: spending big but not getting the returns. Juventus enter this match with an attack in crisis. Kenan Yildiz, their biggest creative hope, is still sidelined through injury. Arkadiusz Milik also fails to provide any certainty to the forward line. In that context, the question arises: who will score for the Turin club? From my years of watching Serie A, Juventus' problem is not the number of strikers — they still have Kolo Muani, Woltemade, and Milik — but the fit between tactics and personnel. Vlahovic was a classic center-forward, a focal point in the box that teammates could rely on for combinations. Meanwhile, neither Kolo Muani nor Woltemade is that kind of back-to-goal striker. They need space, they need quick ball circulation, and that inadvertently creates a mismatch between chance creation and finishing. I recall matches where Vlahovic would maneuver in the box, hold off defenders, and position himself intelligently. That is something modern football still needs, even if the trend leans toward more versatile forwards. Zambrotta, with the experience of a World Cup winner, understands this well. AC Milan, meanwhile, have their own issues. Zambrotta pointed out that his former club has only two pure strikers in Goncalo Ramos and Francesco Camarda — a number too thin for competing on three fronts. "They should have bought one more. It was needed numerically to compete across three different competitions," he said. Milan are currently in better form than Juventus. But as Zambrotta himself admitted, big matches are ultimately decided by mentality, not physical condition or form. That opens the door for Juventus to capitalize on home advantage. I used to think I was a storyteller. It turns out I am just transcribing the dreams of thousands of people. And tonight, the dreams of thousands of Juventus fans will be written on the pitch. Will the black and white team find their voice again? Will Zambrotta's criticism become the motivation for them to prove otherwise? There is one undeniable truth: football never forgives wastefulness. And with an attack worth over 100 million euros scoring only 5 goals in 2026, Juventus are pushing themselves into a difficult corner. A loss to Milan would not just mean dropped points — it would fuel a deeper crisis of confidence. But I also believe in quiet moments. There are afternoons when the stadium is empty, and the sound of the bouncing ball sounds like an unanswered confession of love. And in a big match like this, just one such moment — a clever touch, a decisive shot — is enough to change everything. Zambrotta may be right in theory. But football is not played on theory. It is played on the pitch, where the impossible can still happen. And that is why we love this sport so much.