Kostic: Spalletti helps Juventus recover another important asset

Filip Kostic started in Cremona, put in a strong performance and chipped in with a goal after 90 seconds during Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus debut on Saturday evening, and the Serbian could be the latest asset that the new Bianconeri tactician helps to recover. 

Spalletti is becoming an expert in debt recovery: That is getting the best out of players who had been brought in for large fees and, for one reason or another, struggled to live up to expectations. 

Kostic joined Juventus after a dominant Europa League title victory with Eintracht Frankfurt, and, at the time, had been considered one of the best specialist wing-backs in the game. 

He was a player that Massimiliano Allegri had specifically requested at Juventus, and at the beginning of his Bianconeri career, made a positive impact. 

But then, for various reasons, and not entirely through his own doing, Kostic began to fall out of favour and eventually ended up on loan at Fenerbahce. 

Back from his loan spell, and now back in the first-team picture at Juventus, Kostic is keen to stay on in Turin until his contract expires in June. 

It remains to be seen whether Kostic’s performance during Saturday’s win over Cremonese will change his future plans, but what is becoming clear is that Spalletti is an expert in ‘debt recovery’. And what a way for Kostic to celebrate his birthday.