In a stunning three-day narrative of sporting humiliation and redemption, Juventus striker Jonathan David transformed from a figure of intense criticism to a match-winning hero. The Canadian international's journey from missing a crucial penalty against Lecce on Saturday to delivering a man-of-the-match performance in a 3-0 victory away to Sassuolo on Tuesday has captivated Italian football.
From Panenka Disaster to Public Scrutiny
The drama began at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday. With the score level against Lecce, Jonathan David stepped up to take a penalty. Opting for an audacious Panenka chip straight down the middle, the striker failed to get sufficient lift on the ball. Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, despite diving early, managed to adjust and kick the effort away, costing Juventus two points.
The reaction was swift and brutal. In television studios, pundits eviscerated the 25-year-old's decision. Former Juventus player Emanuele Giaccherini, on Dazn, criticised a player "who hasn’t scored since August and earns €6m-a-year" for not showing more conviction. On Sky Sport, veteran analyst Paolo Condò was even harsher, stating David had taken the kick "as though he was a phenomenon" while suggesting his performances had shown him to be "just a very modest centre-forward."
This public censure felt like a release valve for broader frustrations. David, a high-profile free transfer from Lille last summer where he scored 109 goals in five seasons, had managed only one Serie A goal since the opening day against Parma. Reports had swirled about his failure to integrate off the pitch, claims robustly denied by teammates who shared social media pictures with him in a show of unity.
Manager's Faith and a Night of Redemption
Amid the storm, manager Luciano Spalletti stood firmly behind his player. The coach, renowned for developing strikers like Francesco Totti and Victor Osimhen, defended David's right to take the penalty and dismissed critics as rivals trying to destabilise Juventus. He backed his words with action, naming David in the starting lineup for Tuesday's trip to Sassuolo.
The faith was repaid in full. David was instrumental from the outset. He played a key role in the 16th-minute opener, releasing Pierre Kalulu whose cross was headed into his own net by Sassuolo's Tarik Muharemovic. His confidence visibly grew, culminating in a sublime piece of play early in the second half. Taking a knock-down from Weston McKennie, David executed a perfect two-touch lay-off to send Fabio Miretti through to score.
The crowning moment arrived just two minutes later. David pressured defender Jay Idzes into a dreadful backpass, intercepted the ball, rounded the goalkeeper, and side-footed home. It was his first Serie A goal since August, met with joyous celebrations as the entire Juventus bench emptied to mob him—a powerful rebuttal to rumours of dressing-room isolation.
Looking Ahead: A Corner Turned?
Speaking after the final whistle, Spalletti praised his team's response. "After all those insults, all those statements made against him, I would have been surprised not to see the team make themselves his shield," the manager stated. When jokingly asked if David would now be allowed to put parmesan on pasta with clams—a reference to Spalletti's earlier humorous defence—the coach laughed: "Always! He’s got us used to this invention of his now."
While the performance came against a struggling Sassuolo side, the symbolism was potent. The victory lifted Juventus to 36 points in Serie A, keeping them firmly in the top-four chase. For Jonathan David, it was a vital demonstration of his quality and a crucial step towards winning over his doubters. As Spalletti noted, the narrative constructed from outside the club bore little resemblance to the solidarity within it. This three-day saga served as a potent reminder of football's capacity for rapid, dramatic turnaround.
