In a stunning reversal of fortune, Juventus striker Jonathan David authored a tale of personal redemption this week, going from scapegoat to saviour in the space of just three days. The Canadian international, heavily criticised for a lazy penalty miss against Lecce on Saturday, responded with a man-of-the-match performance in a commanding 3-0 victory away to Sassuolo on Tuesday night.
From Panenka Pariah to Team Player
The drama began at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday. With the score locked at 1-1 against Lecce, Jonathan David stepped up to take a penalty in the 71st minute. Opting for a poorly executed Panenka chip straight down the middle, his effort was easily saved by goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, costing Juventus two crucial points. The backlash was immediate and severe.
Pundits in Italy eviscerated the 25-year-old. 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. Sky Sport's 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."
Behind the Headlines: Rumours and Rebuttals
The penalty miss became a lightning rod for wider frustrations with David's start to life in Turin. Signed on a free transfer from Lille last summer after scoring 109 goals in five seasons, expectations were sky-high. Alongside Loïs Openda, he was meant to revitalise Juventus's attack.
Despite scoring in the season opener against Parma, his form dipped. When regular starter Dusan Vlahovic suffered an adductor injury in late November, David failed to seize his chance. Reports then surfaced of off-pitch issues, claiming he was isolated from teammates and excluded from group dinners.
These claims were robustly denied by the Juventus squad. Defender Federico Gatti called them "completely unfounded," and players shared social media photos with David in a show of unity. Manager Luciano Spalletti, who replaced Igor Tudor in October, joked: "[The Italians] did well not to take him to dinner. The first time they invited him he grated parmesan on pasta with clams, so they didn’t ask him again."
A Night of Redemption at the Mapei Stadium
Spalletti, known for developing strikers like Francesco Totti and Victor Osimhen, kept faith in David. He defended the player's right to take penalties and, crucially, named him in the starting lineup against Sassuolo. David repaid that faith with his finest display in a Juventus shirt.
He was involved in the 16th-minute opener, releasing Pierre Kalulu whose cross was headed into his own net by Sassuolo's Tarik Muharemovic. Early in the second half, David showcased his quality, taking a Weston McKennie knock-down and delivering a deft, 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 catastrophic 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 bench emptied to mob him.
"After all those insults, all those statements made against him, I would have been surprised not to see the team make themselves his shield," Spalletti said post-match, highlighting the squad's support.
Looking Ahead: A Corner Turned?
While the 3-0 win and David's performance were emphatic, caution is warranted. Sassuolo were poor, and greater tests await. David himself missed another good chance later in the game. The challenge for Spalletti is to coax this level of performance consistently from his striker.
However, the narrative of a divided dressing room has been firmly quashed. The images of universal celebration and Spalletti's unwavering public support paint a clear picture. When asked if David would be allowed his parmesan-on-clams culinary crime after the win, Spalletti laughed: "Always! He’s got us used to this invention of his now. We’re out here creating new dishes."
The victory moved Juventus to 36 points, firmly in the Serie A top-four chase. For Jonathan David, a tumultuous week may have provided the catalyst his Italian career desperately needed.
