Igor Tudor has warned Juventus that he will not lead the team at the Club World Cup if they plan on replacing him as coach next season.
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Tudor threatens to quit Juve this summerSecured UCL qualification to trigger release clauseConte seen as likely replacementFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Juve boss says he will not manage the team at the upcoming Club World Cup if a decision to replace him for next season has already been made by the club. The declaration came after Juve's 3-2 win over Venezia, which confirmed a fourth-place finish in the Serie A table to qualify for next season's Champions League, with Tudor urging the club to confirm their decision.
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Juventus are reportedly considering reuniting with former coach Antonio Conte, who recently led Napoli to win the Serie A title. Despite achieving his short-term goals, Tudor's future remains uncertain. Director Cristiano Giuntoli said the club would make the final decision after the Club World Cup. However, Tudor pushed for clarity as he insisted that it would be illogical for him to lead the squad in the tournament if the club does not want him to remain in charge for the 2025-26 season.
Tudor's contract reportedly includes a clause that automatically extends his deal until 2026 upon securing Champions League qualification. However, the club can terminate the agreement for a reported €1 million buyout if they opt to go in a different direction.
WHAT TUDOR SAID
Speaking to , Tudor said: “It will be known soon, not after the Club World Cup, but before.
“I am always happy. We’ve achieved something, but this life as a coach must be accepted. You are always on the brink; it all depends on the results. You need to focus on the team’s growth and find the flavour and pleasure of doing this job. It would have changed nothing for me if we hadn’t won today. It would not have changed the way I see myself. Of course, winning is better than losing."
He added: "Juventus can aim to win [titles] with two or three new pieces. People with experience. It’s known that, in order to win trophies, you need an age average of 26 or 27. I’m not inventing it. We are a bit green, but there’s quality, and I think you can win with a good job and two or three signings.
"I can’t say anything; we’ll talk and decide soon. We were all focused on the end of the season, all the games. I didn’t even want to talk about this. Now we have the Club World Cup, but all this will be solved before that. It would not be a good idea to go there without a decision, or to make a decision [to change] but still go there with the same coach. It would not be serious for the club or the coach."
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TUDOR AND JUVENTUS?
Juve will kick off their Club World Cup campaign on June 18 against Al Ain. The Italian club is expected to make a decision on Tudor's status before the tournament. If they decide to appoint a new head coach, likely Conte, Tudor's brief spell at the helm could end with European qualification as his final act.