After a completely crazy and historic epic with Bologna, Thiago Motta seemed to have a bright future. The Italian-Brazilian technician, architect of shimmering and collective football who had led the Rossoblù to an unexpected qualification for the Champions League, then agreed to take over from Massimiliano Allegri on the Juventus bench. His debut in Turin gave a glimpse of a modernized Juve, focused on possession and verticality. However, the collaboration came to an end: a succession of poor results in Serie A then an intense clash with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli brought his Bianconera adventure to an abrupt end. The latter has since left his position, proof that football is definitely moving very quickly. In the space of a few months, Motta went from being a prodigy coach, courted throughout Europe, to being a man without a club. Since his dismissal, recorded on March 23, 2025, silence has reigned around him. A deceptive calm for the man who nevertheless remains one of the most scrutinized technicians on the continent.
A relative calm, because rumors have continued to flourish around his name for several weeks. In France, it was on the side of AS Monaco that his profile was first mentioned after the departure of Adi Hütter, before the track cooled down with the appointment of Sébastien Pocognoli. In Spain, Real Sociedad also studied the possibility of asking him when Sergio Francisco was weakened by a series of disappointing results. More recently, the most exotic track led to Poland, where Legia Warsaw would have sounded out the technician for an ambitious medium-term project. And again this week, new speculations emerged: Thiago Motta would have been offered to Wolverhampton in the Premier League and to Ajax Amsterdam, where management is seeking to redefine its playing identity after months of turbulence and the noted departure of John Heitinga. So many tracks which testify to the still intact aura of the former PSG midfielder, even without an official position.
Atalanta still in the viewfinder
According to our information, Ajax Amsterdam’s interest is not just a rumor. The Dutch club has indeed ticked the name of Thiago Motta on its shortlist and a first informal approach would have taken place. However, the favorite of the Dutch leaders would not be the ex-Juventus coach. For his part, Motta keeps a clear priority of finding a bench in Serie A. The former Bologna coach dreams of a solid and European project in the Italian championship, and still sees Atalanta as the ideal destination. Contacts between the two parties, very advanced last summer after the departure of Gian Piero Gasperini to Rome, could be rekindled if Ivan Juric’s situation were to become complicated. Despite Atalanta’s great victory against OM in the Champions League, the results in the league leave something to be desired and the pressure is mounting around Juric, especially (after the new humiliating defeat (0-3) at home)() against promoted Sassuolo this Sunday. It is also this wait around Bergamo which would have slowed down discussions with Fiorentina in recent days, the Viola having finally chosen Paolo Vanoli to succeed Stefano Pioli, while Motta’s profile appeared on the list of suitors.
In recent months, Thiago Motta has been deliberately discreet in the media. Far from the cameras, he calmly prepares his return with his loyal staff: Alexandre Hugeux, Simon Colinet, Alfred Dossou-Yovo, Lavio Francisco Garcia and Alessandro Colasante. They all declined several offers, preferring to wait with their coach for a new challenge that matches their common ambitions. At the same time, certain national federations, including those of Serbia and Greece, have tried to sound out Motta for a coaching position, but he remains focused on a club project, convinced that his style is better expressed on a daily basis. Note that Fenerbahçe and Red Bull Bragantino also spoke briefly with Motta at the start of the season. If Serie A does not open up to him in the coming weeks, his plans B are clear with the Premier League, for its tactical demands and its visibility, and Ligue 1, a championship that he knows and where several clubs could appreciate his profile. One thing is certain, the return of Thiago Motta is becoming clearer and could well take place before Christmas with Atalanta still holding pole position.
