Iceman. A nickname that has stuck to Jonathan David’s jersey for several years. The Canadian also explained this during an interview given to the UEFA website last March, while he was still playing at LOSC. “It’s Iceman and it’s from my early years with the Canadian national team. It was my coach at the time, John Herdman, who gave me that nickname because I was someone who was quite calm, but also very cold in front of goal. And then, it made sense because Canada is a little cold, and since then, it’s stuck. (…) I am someone who is quite calm on the pitch, despite match situations which can be a little heated.”
Jonathan David moves in slow motion
On the Turin side, this nickname has obviously taken on a completely different meaning. Free after the end of his lease with the Mastiffs, the Canadian striker was courted by several Italian teams. But it was the Old Lady who won the day. “Jonathan David is a new Juventus player. The purchase of Jonathan David by Juventus is official: the striker born in 2000 has signed a 5-year contract with the Bianconeri, until June 30, 2030 for player registration, for an additional fee of 12.5 million euros.could we read on the press release. But on the other side of the Alps, in Piedmont, the center forward is experiencing certain difficulties. Whether on or off the field.
Under the orders of Igor Tudor, then Luciano Spalletti, David participated in 21 matches in all competitions, including 10 as a starter. Regarding his stat line, he scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist. Which is very meager for a player of his caliber. In Italy, we expected better from him. Spalletti didn’t hide it, he who recently shook his player slightly. “We need a little more confidence to resolve certain problems. If we are too shy, others notice and point it out to us, because we don’t react. They are both advanced strikers, but Openda is more comfortable in space, while David is more inclined towards team play and, therefore, could also perform well as a second striker.
A relationship to improve with teammates
He added: “They are very sensitive players, and I am happy to support them, because it is clear that they need it. This is the moment when they should score two or three goals to regain confidence and play their game with more serenity. But in football you also have to prove yourself, so they have to succeed on their own.” Tuttosport adds that the former Italy coach is trying to support David privately. After observing him after his arrival, he felt a distance between part of the group and him. Which is confirmed by the Italian media. Thus, we learn that the attacker did not make much effort to integrate with his teammates, in particular the former members of the group of which Dusan Vlahovic is a part.
In addition to his shyness and the language barrier, the former LOSC player, who felt a certain coldness from his teammates, responded with even greater coldness. The Canadian thus “turned in on itself” and isolated himself. He skipped several informal dinners with his teammates, sometimes being invited and other times not. Aware of the gap between his players and his recruit, Luciano Spalletti took matters into his own hands, helping him gain the sympathy of the group. It started to pay off with a goal from the striker against Pafos in the Champions League. Juve will hope he continues like this, both on and off the pitch.
