Juventus's pre-season tour has hit a bump after a 1-0 defeat to Inter in Perth, ending a run of clean sheets that had stretched across friendlies against Standard Liegi, Nizza, and Chelsea. The loss matters less for the scoreline than for what it reveals about the squad's remaining gaps as the Serie A opener against Frosinone on August 23 draws closer.

Spalletti's defensive options took a further hit when Federico Gatti picked up a problem that ruled him out of the Inter fixture, leaving Gleison Bremer to partner Lloyd Kelly at the back. Bremer, for his part, has publicly dismissed any talk of a summer exit, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport he would never ask to leave, particularly at a difficult moment for the club. That commitment is a genuine boost, but the need for cover remains real. Bologna's Jhon Lucumi is Spalletti's preferred defensive reinforcement, and while both player and club want the deal done, a fee agreement with Bologna has not yet been reached.

In attack, the Zirkzee pursuit is gathering pace after Manchester United indicated they would sanction a loan move, giving Juventus a credible option to complement Randal Kolo Muani. One positive thread running through the pre-season has been Douglas Luiz, who has impressed enough to convince Spalletti he can be a genuine midfield asset this season after a difficult first year in Turin. Teun Koopmeiners, by contrast, remains a problem the club needs to resolve, with his sale still proving difficult despite being a priority for freeing up budget to complete incoming business.