Lucumi reveals Cuadrado encouraged Juventus move: 'He told me I had to come here'
Quick summary
Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi has revealed that former Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado advised him to join the Turin club, fueling speculation about a potential summer transfer.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceJhon Lucumi has credited compatriot Juan Cuadrado with helping convince him to join Juventus , revealing the pair spoke before he completed his move from Bologna.
Speaking in an interview with Tuttosport, via TuttoMercatoWeb , the Colombian defender turned to a man who spent eight years in Turin and left with a considerable haul of silverware.
“Did I speak to Cuadrado about Juve? Of course, he’s a great friend. He left a very important mark here and the titles he won prove it. He only spoke to me about positive things and he told me I had to come here. That I had to live this experience. Because being a Juventus player is something extremely important.”
ZAPOPAN, MEXICO – JUNE 23: Jhon Lucumi #3 of Colombia celebrates after the 1-0 win during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Colombia and Congo DR at Guadalajara Stadium on June 23, 2026 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) Lucumi describes Spalletti’s demands at Juventus Lucumi also offered his first impressions of Luciano Spalletti, who handed him a debut against Parma.
“My relationship with Spalletti? Good, like with all my team-mates. He’s our coach, he’s the leader of the team and we just have to try to follow his instructions,” he said.
“Spalletti is a very demanding coach: he always wants to win, he wants to play to perfection, and he wants his team to be in very good shape. So yes, that’s how it is: you go ‘to war’, but with all the tools to do it.”
FROSINONE, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Luciano Spalletti head coach of FC Juventus gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 23, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) Asked whether an immediate start had caught him off guard, the centre-back was matter-of-fact. “When you’re at Juventus you always have to be ready. We’re talking about the biggest club in Italy.”
Juventus have won both of their opening fixtures and host Milan on Sunday at the Allianz Stadium.
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What happened
Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumi has publicly stated that Juan Cuadrado, who spent seven seasons at Juventus, encouraged him to make the move to the Allianz Stadium. The comments come amid ongoing speculation linking the Colombian defender with a transfer to Juventus. Lucumi has impressed in Serie A with Bologna, and his comments suggest there has been at least informal contact about a potential move. The revelation adds weight to transfer rumors that have been circulating in Italian media about Juventus' defensive recruitment plans.
Chance analysis
Lucumi's comments pull back the curtain on the player-to-player networking that often shapes transfer decisions in Serie A. Cuadrado's endorsement carries weight given his decorated history at Juventus and his connection to the Colombian national team setup alongside Lucumi. For Juventus, defensive reinforcement remains a priority following an inconsistent campaign, and a ball-playing centre-back of Lucumi's profile fits the mold of what they have been targeting. Whether this translates into a concrete bid will depend on Bologna's valuation and Juventus' budget, but the player's openness to the move is now on the record.
A potential Lucumi move would strengthen Juventus' defensive options while leaving a notable gap in Bologna's back line.