Spalletti shuts down David rumours but jokes: ‘He put parmesan on seafood pasta’

Luciano Spalletti has shut down rumours that Jonathan David has become an isolated figure in the Juventus dressing room and that he was not invited to the team’s Christmas dinner by joking that the Canadian committed an Italian sin when he first moved to Turin: ‘He grated parmesan on seafood pasta, they didn’t invite him again’. 

Rumours have circulated in the Italian press over the last few days that David has struggled to settle in since joining Juventus on a free transfer over the summer. 

Tuttosport has described the 25-year-old as being ‘shy and reserved’, and suggests that he has struggled to settle into the Juventus dressing room due to his language barrier, but that he is also not making much of an effort with his teammates. 

The Turin-based outlet also claimed that David had not been invited to several informal team dinners, and there have been some suggestions elsewhere that he was not invited to the squad’s annual Christmas do. 

Several members of the Juventus squad have tried to shut these rumours down. Federico Gatti wrote on his Instagram story: “I want to take two minutes to clarify this situation. I find it inconceivable that such unfounded news, built out of nothing, on the eve of such an important game, have been allowed to circulate. 

“Even more surprising is seeing how many people believe this news hat doesn’t even have the slightest element of truth. The only thing that matters now is the game. The rest is just noise.” 

Manuel Locatelli and Mattia Perin have also posted pictures on their Instagram stories smiling alongside David over the last few days. 

Spalletti has since had his chance to weigh in on the matter during Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Juve’s highly-anticipated clash with Roma in Serie A. 

Spalletti joked that David had not been invited to team meals because he committed an Italian cardinal sin after he first moved to Italy. 

“They made the right call not inviting him,” Spalletti joked. “The first time they took him out to dinner, he grated parmesan on seafood pasta and they didn’t invite him again.”