Spalletti says Inter showed greater team readiness in Juventus friendly win

Luciano Spalletti says Inter were more cohesive than Juventus as his side began preparations for the new season with a 2-1 friendly defeat.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the Juventus manager acknowledged that Inter’s collective organisation was particularly clear during the opening half of the match.

“Inter appeared more like a team than us, especially in the first half,” Spalletti said.

His assessment came after Inter scored twice through Federico Dimarco and Andy Diouf, while Juventus managed only a late consolation goal. The result gave Inter victory in the friendly, but Spalletti focused on the difference in preparation between the two squads rather than the final score alone.

“That is normal. We are still in the process of building the team and we need to improve step by step,” he added.

The match also marked the first appearance for Juventus of new arrivals Randal Kolo Muani and Karim Alajbegovic. Both players joined the club recently, and Spalletti said he had wanted to assess them at close quarters after evaluating them before their moves.

“I evaluated them well before signing them, and I wanted to see them up close,” he said.

“They joined only three days ago, and perhaps I was too quick to play them for an entire half.”

Spalletti nevertheless praised the pair’s ability while stressing that Juventus still need to establish the right balance across the side.

“They are excellent players and at a high level, but we need to find the right balance within the team,” he said.

The manager said Juventus’ immediate priority was to develop into a more complete unit as they continue their preparations for the new campaign.

“We have to work to become a complete team. That is the most important step at the moment,” Spalletti explained.

Juventus are rebuilding after making several changes to their squad. The club finished last season sixth in the Italian league and are now working to improve their level ahead of the new campaign.

Kolo Muani’s arrival was confirmed by Juventus last week, with the France striker moving from Paris Saint-Germain. The deal is worth 38m euros, with a further 12m euros available in bonuses if certain conditions are met, including winning trophies or finishing as the Italian league’s leading goalscorer.

The agreement keeps Kolo Muani at Juventus until June 2031.

For Spalletti, the friendly offered an early indication of the work still required. Inter’s greater collective understanding, particularly in the first half, exposed the gap between a side already operating with greater cohesion and a Juventus team still integrating new players and seeking its identity.