Here are the top 6 reasons for Juventus' downfall

A club that was on a streak of winning 9 league titles of their own suddenly had such a bad downfall that they struggled to compete for the top 4.

It is always said that champions attract jealousy. For years, rival fans had seen Juventus compete and win so many titles, but everything started to change after the 2020 season.

Everything started to go south; even winning the Scudetto, which was quite easy for Juve, seemed like an uphill task.

The downfall of Juventus and their decline in winning trophies compared to the last decade can be attributed to several key reasons identified from recent analyses, reports, and expert opinions. Here are the top 6 reasons:

The 15-point deduction

Juventus has faced significant financial irregularities and scandals, notably including a major financial scandal that led to a severe 15-point deduction by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

The immediate consequence of this point deduction was severe. Juventus plunged the Serie A standings, from competing for top positions and Champions League qualification spots to falling out of the top four.

This meant Juventus missed out on the lucrative Champions League football for the first time in over a decade, which further compounded their financial and competitive troubles.

Though Juventus initially appealed and had some points restored temporarily, the ultimate ruling saw them lose 10 points, solidifying their drop in league position.

Alongside this, sanctions were imposed on several top executives, including bans, and the entire club management underwent upheaval with resignations of key figures such as Andrea Agnelli and Pavel Nedved.

The scandal and resulting penalties struck directly at the club’s morale, destabilised planning, and continued to affect player recruitment and squad investment.

Juventus found themselves locked in a protracted legal and reputation battle, which distracted from on-pitch focus and sustained underperformance.

Aging Players and a lack of replacement

Poor Squad Management and Lack of Quality Replacements club has struggled to replace key players from their golden era.

The ageing of the iconic defensive trio (Bonucci-Barzagli-Chiellini) without adequate succession and the loss of midfield stars like Pirlo, Vidal, and Marchisio have left gaps that were not effectively filled.

Signings have often been short-sighted, focusing on availability rather than needs, leading to a lack of cohesion and leadership on the pitch.​

Without experienced leaders to organise the defence and control the midfield, Juventus’ game management deteriorated.

The defence, once feared across Europe, became prone to mistakes and inconsistency.

The midfield lost its creativity and work rate, making it harder for Juventus to control matches or take the initiative against strong opponents.

Moreover, leadership both on and off the pitch declined. The team lacked vocal, experienced players who could inspire others during difficult moments.

This shift contributed to moments of low morale and confidence, with younger players unable to fill the leadership void adequately.

This failure to refresh the squad with high-quality replacements allowed other Serie A teams, and even European clubs, to surpass Juventus in competitiveness.

"No Perfect Managers" riddled by mediocrity.

After Allegri, there has also not been any serious manager who wanted to take charge like they meant it; there is always small news around the corner about different views managers and board members possess.

Juventus has experienced managerial chaos with multiple coaching changes in recent years, which have affected stability and team identity.

Recent coaches struggled with key matches, early exits in cup competitions, and inconsistent league performances.

Coach Igor Tudor, for instance, was under immense pressure due to poor run results and the inability to inspire the squad.​

Such is the condition of the coach in Juventus that, currently, most of the football fans cannot name their coach without googling it.

Decline in Squad Mentality and Physical Condition

Reports highlight a dip in squad morale, mentality, and physical sharpness.

After initial promising periods during the season, Juventus suffered from poor intensity, lack of attacking creativity, and defensive lapses, contributing to a run of matches without wins and goals.​

Rising Competitiveness in Serie A.

Other Serie A teams like Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli, and Lazio have made significant progress both on the field and financially. Napoli's recent rise with multiple titles and Champions League qualifications has reshaped the competition, leaving Juventus with less dominance compared to their decade-long supremacy​

Impact of Cristiano Ronaldo's Signing and Financial

Burden: The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 brought big wages ($71 million annually) that heavily restricted Juventus' budget for squad building.

This is a bitter truth that would rattle many Juventus and Ronaldo fans, but yes his wage did play a significant role in destabilising the club economy, a similar type of destabilisation of Messi with Barcelona in early 2021.

As Juventus did not go on and win any crucial trophy Year over year with Ronaldo, the ultimate dream of the UCL trophy was a distant memory, with the team falling behind in the league too.

Money was not being generated as the club exited early from the Champions League and stopped winning the Coppa Italia; their main dream of the UCL, however, remained just a dream.

Ronaldo's departure left a broken side, with some previous stars regressing and the club struggling financially.

This has limited Juventus' ability to refresh the squad and maintain high performance levels