Juventus approves €250m capital increase

Juventus shareholders have approved a capital increase of up to €250m, with a substantial portion intended to support the club’s balance sheet rather than fund a major transfer spending programme.The proposal received 99.9% support at the extraordinary section of the shareholder meeting at Allianz Stadium, where investors also approved the annual accounts.Chief executive Giovanni Carnevali said: “The commitment is total. I believe what is needed, especially today, is planning. Competitiveness and continuity.“We must have a clear project, a global project, one that involves the first team, Next Gen and the youth sector. We must always try to improve.”At least half of the proposed capital injection is expected to help maintain positive equity in the coming years, placing financial stability at the centre of the club’s plans.Approval authorises the fundraising operation rather than establishing that the full €250m has already been raised.Controlling shareholder Exor holds 65.4% of Juventus, while Tether Investments owns 11.5%. The shareholder register showed Lindsell Train’s holding at approximately 3.7%, down from a previously reported 6.2%.Carnevali outlined a strategy built around greater coordination between the senior side, the Next Gen development team and the academy, with an emphasis on producing future first-team players.He continued: “We need to bring a little more Italian identity into our structure, certainly. But I believe that within the youth sector, Next Gen must be the flagship of this club, developing young players who can one day become Juventus players.”The club is also rebuilding its scouting operation as it seeks to identify talent before players command transfer fees beyond its reach.Carnevali said he had largely retained existing staff, adding Ricky Massara to work alongside Marco Ottolini rather than bringing in a large external management team.He described the changes as part of an effort to restore enthusiasm and a sense of belonging while establishing a more effective football operation.Expanding Juventus’s academy presence elsewhere in Italy is another priority, with Carnevali pointing to the concentration of its existing network in Piedmont.Of the 20 academies he identified, 14 are in Piedmont and six elsewhere in the country. The management’s message to shareholders was one of gradual rebuilding, with the capital increase supporting the financial foundations needed for that work.Carnevali said: “We are studying how to operate. We need broader coverage. We want to develop academies not only in Piedmont but across Italy.“What I can guarantee is commitment, seriousness, a strong desire to get things done, clear ideas, knowing where we want to go and knowing the problems we face. We must not talk too much; we must deliver through our work.”