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)
TT
20

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.



Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
TT
20

Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman

Zheng Qinwen finally got her first win over Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh attempt to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday and the Olympic champion said she had perhaps shown the world number one too much respect in their prior meetings.

The Chinese 22-year-old had gone down tamely in all but one of her previous six encounters with Sabalenka, including in the 2024 Australian Open final, but she delivered a clinical 6-4 6-3 win over the off-color Belarusian in Rome.

The win will come as a huge boost for Zheng as she continues her preparations for the French Open, which begins on May 25.

"The few times I faced her in the beginning, I gave her too much respect," Zheng told reporters, according to Reuters.

"I didn't face her like a normal player. I remember I was going to see her in the 2017 China Open ... My father was saying 'Oh, you need to learn about her forehand, her backhand'.

"I think this kind of respect, it takes a while to treat her like a normal player."

Sabalenka had been on a nine-match winning streak on clay but Zheng said she was in her comfort zone on the surface.

"This is the first time we've played on clay," she said.

"I guess when I play on clay, I'm more comfortable because I've got great experience on clay.

"I was more patient. I'm happy with my performance and happy to make the step forward to beat the world number one."

Zheng plays world number three Coco Gauff for a place in the final.