Following the departure of former general manager Giuseppe Marotta in 2018, Fabio Paratici enjoyed a free reign at Juventus for almost three years before leaving for Tottenham in 2021.
Unfortunately, the reckless dealings of the former sports director but the whole club in hot water. The Bianconeri are now under investigation for financial irregularities related to alleged illegal capital gains due to inflated transfer fees, as well as backroom dealings with players regarding their salaries.
Before being promoted to the position of sports director, Federico Cherubini acted as Paratici’s right-hand man. But according to recently revealed calls, he was disgusted by his predecessor’s dealings.
Cherubini reportedly believes Juventus overpaid for Federico Chiesa (almost €70m in total) and Dejan Kulusevski (44m), and was puzzled by the swap deal with Roma involving Luca Pellegrini and Leonardo. Spinazzola.
“Fabio drugged the transfer market. Even Kulusevski or Chiesa, who are excellent players, but when we buy them we pay too much,” said the club’s current sports director in intercepted calls through Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Kulusevski had only been in Serie A for five months and we paid 35 plus 9 bonuses: that’s 44.”
“If Fabio woke up in the morning and had a headache or had a glass, he could sign someone for 20 million without telling anyone. It was dangerous”.
“At one point I no longer had that filter [perhaps a reference to Marotta’s departure]. He was overrevved! You can’t do this type of operation like Spinazzola-Pellegrini, you just can’t.”
“I would have nights when I would come home and feel like throwing up just thinking about it.”
