Juventus Says It May Need More Cash, Secures $16 Million from the Agnellis

Juventus new head coach Igor Tudor prior the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC, in Juventus, Italy, 29 March 2025. (EPA)
Juventus new head coach Igor Tudor prior the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC, in Juventus, Italy, 29 March 2025. (EPA)
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Juventus Says It May Need More Cash, Secures $16 Million from the Agnellis

Juventus new head coach Igor Tudor prior the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC, in Juventus, Italy, 29 March 2025. (EPA)
Juventus new head coach Igor Tudor prior the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC, in Juventus, Italy, 29 March 2025. (EPA)

Juventus may need more money to steady its finances after parting ways with manager Thiago Motta, the Italian football club said, adding its top shareholder had agreed to provide 15 million euros ($16 million) ahead of a potential share issue.

Juventus, which has been controlled by the Agnelli family for a century, has been forced to raise around 900 million euros from its shareholders over the past six years.

Agnelli-owned Exor has agreed to make a 15-million-euro cash contribution against a potential future new share issue, the club said late on Friday.

Juventus this month replaced Motta with former player Igor Tudor after two consecutive heavy defeats in a disappointing season, with the club standing fifth in Serie A.

The club said recent performance on the field and Motta's departure had prompted it to reassess results for this quarter and next, as well as prospects for the 2025-2026 financial year.

Juventus' financial year runs from July 1 to June 30.

The club said overall targets under its plan through 2027 still stood, but the review had highlighted the potential need for a cash injection, ranging from 15 million euros to as much as 10% of its market value.

Juventus was worth 1.14 billion euros at Friday's closing price.

Exor could cover the cash call in full but would invest at least enough to keep its stake unchanged, Juventus said.

A final decision on the capital hike will be taken after the current season and the summer transfer campaign for players.

Juventus swung to a profit in the first half of this fiscal year, thanks to its return to Europe's lucrative Champions League competition, but it does not expect a net profit for the full year.

The club was docked 10 points in the 2022-23 season and banned from European competitions in 2023-24 after accounting issues. It denied any wrongdoing and said its accounting was in line with industry standards.



The Camera Never Lies: Electronic Line Calls in Focus Again as Zverev Takes Photo of Ball Mark 

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
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The Camera Never Lies: Electronic Line Calls in Focus Again as Zverev Takes Photo of Ball Mark 

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)

Alexander Zverev is convinced there was a defect in the electronic line calling system during his Madrid Open win on Sunday after the German risked a hefty fine by pulling out his phone to take a photograph of a contested call.

The top seed overcame Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 2-6 7-6(3) 7-6(0) to reach the last 16 of the claycourt tournament but was frustrated by an incident in the second set when a backhand from his opponent was called in by the tracking technology.

Zverev appealed to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to take a look but was rebuffed, and the world number two was then warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after pulling his phone out of his bag and taking a picture of the spot.

"I honestly think there was a defect in the system. There was a mistake in the system in that moment," said Zverev, who later posted the photo on Instagram.

"It's not like one millimeter in, one millimeter out, it was like four-five centimeters. That's why I went to the umpire and said 'Please, come down to have a look at this, I'm not crazy'."

Reuters has contacted the ATP for comment.

Earlier this month, women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka also took a photo of a disputed ball mark during a match in Stuttgart and was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The ATP has adopted the line calling system for all of its tournaments from this year, and while Zverev said he was a fan of the technology he was shocked by the incident in Madrid.

"It's going to be interesting to see what happens now, what kind of fine I'll get, even though I'm right," he said.

"I hope I don't get a fine, because obviously, in my opinion, I'm completely in the right and I should not get fined for this."