Thiago Motta’s tenure as Juventus head coach came to an abrupt end on March 23, 2025, a victim of disappointing results and a season that fell far short of expectations.
Less than a year into his reign, Juventus announced his dismissal and the appointment of Igor Tudor as his successor, tasked with salvaging what remained of a challenging campaign.
Motta’s time in Turin was marred by significant defeats, including a humiliating 4-0 loss to Atalanta at home – the club’s worst since 1967 – and a damaging 3-0 defeat against Fiorentina.
These results left Juventus languishing in fifth place in Serie A, a distant 12 points adrift of league leaders Inter Milan.
To add to their woes, the team also exited the UEFA Champions League and the Coppa Italia early in the competition.
Beyond the poor results, Motta’s tactical decisions and handling of players also drew criticism. Notably, his decision to sideline key players like Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz reportedly caused unrest within the squad.
However, it seems no player was as clearly on the outs as Federico Chiesa, and his reaction to Motta’s departure speaks volumes about their fractured relationship.
Chiesa’s exclusion from Juventus’ squad under Motta became a recurring theme, with suggestions that Motta simply didn’t see the Italian winger as part of his long-term vision for the team.
This marginalization ultimately led to Chiesa’s sale to Liverpool for £12.5 million in the summer of 2024.
Even prior to his departure, Motta made his stance on Chiesa abundantly clear. In a blunt statement to reporters during a pre-season friendly against Brest, Motta stated, “Chiesa and all the other players not called up for today’s game are NOT part of the project. We have been clear with them, they have to find a new solution and new club as soon as possible. The decision has been made.”
Given this backdrop of clear animosity and Chiesa’s forced exit from the club, it comes as little surprise how the Italian winger reacted to the news of Motta’s sacking.
According to multiple eagle-eyed social media observers, Federico Chiesa seemingly liked Fabrizio Romano’s post on social media that announced Thiago Motta’s dismissal from Juventus, just 4 minutes after it went live –
Chiesa and Danilo as soon as the Motta news dropped https://t.co/K5bIJsuQBt pic.twitter.com/krBHpnMw4r
— Lex(@dybalexa) March 23, 2025
