Juventus have found an old certainty at the heart of a changing season: Gleison Bremer is again setting the standard in defence, scoring decisive goals and carrying the captain’s armband as the club look to build momentum under Luciano Spalletti.
The Brazilian centre-back has already delivered two match-winning goals, first against Frosinone and again in Sunday’s meeting with Atalanta. They have reinforced his standing in Turin after a difficult period following the serious injury he suffered in October 2024, an absence whose effects were felt well beyond the weeks he spent off the pitch.
There was one collective setback against Sassuolo, when Bremer also made an unusual error, but it has not altered the broader picture. Juventus have repeatedly looked like a different side with their No. 3 available, and his opening to the campaign suggests he is moving closer to the level he set before the injury.
Records underline Bremer’s influence
Bremer’s goal against Atalanta took him to 24 Serie A goals, making him the highest-scoring Brazilian defender in the competition’s history. It is also the best total registered by a central defender in Italy’s top flight since the start of the 2018-19 season.
His aerial threat is equally striking. With 18 headed goals, Bremer now leads all central defenders for such goals across Europe’s five major leagues. Those numbers have made him more than a defensive reference point for Juventus; he has become one of their most reliable sources of decisive moments at the other end.
A central role in Spalletti’s Juventus
Spalletti has returned to a three-man back line in the last two matches, against NEC and Atalanta, a shape that has brought Bremer’s principal qualities into sharper focus. Positioned centrally alongside Pierre Kalulu and either Jhon Lucumi or Lloyd Kelly, he has been able to use his physical strength, anticipation and positional reading.
Juventus are also asking more of him in possession. The first phase of their play increasingly runs through Bremer, while Lucumi was selected in part for his ability to contribute to the build-up. Bremer has been working to meet his coach’s demand for quicker circulation and greater initiative on the ball.
After scoring the winner against Frosinone, Bremer made clear that his return has required patience and work. “After a difficult season, it was not something to take for granted,” he said. “I worked hard quietly, and now I want to return to my previous level. I am sure I can score a few more goals.”
His second decisive contribution, against Atalanta, came with a measured assessment of the squad’s direction. “We are growing,” Bremer said. “The new players need time and we have to be patient. We are building something for the future. The Scudetto? We must take it one match at a time; the season is long and we have to follow our own path.”
Captaincy adds to Bremer’s responsibility
The 29-year-old’s priority has long been clear: Juventus must return to winning. Last April, he spoke openly about the need for the club to move beyond a prolonged spell short of its usual standards.
“Juventus have been treading water for six years and that cannot happen,” he said at the time. “I am happy here, but it is important to win again. To be considered a champion, you have to win, and that is what I want to try to do. I am 29 and I do not have endless time.”
Those words were not a farewell message. Bremer remained in the summer, despite being among the players Juventus could have considered selling should a substantial offer have helped the club’s finances. Instead, he stayed to take on a larger role in the sporting project.
That role has become more visible since Manuel Locatelli’s serious injury. Bremer has worn the captain’s armband in the midfielder’s absence, adding leadership duties to his importance in Spalletti’s defence.
The international break will offer Bremer a chance to recover, having not been called up by Brazil. For Juventus, it is a useful pause for a player who is once again central to their hopes of turning gradual progress into a sustained challenge across the long Serie A season.
