Jonathan David’s difficult spell at Juventus is beginning to look increasingly distant. The Canadian forward has now scored in four consecutive matches, a sequence completed with Canada against Chile after three goals for Atletico Madrid against Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Real Madrid.
It is only the third time in David’s career that he has found the net across four straight games. His previous runs came in February 2020 at Genk, when he struck seven times against KV Mechelen, Anderlecht, Eupen and Sint-Truiden, and again with Lille between September and October 2022. On that French occasion, goals against Toulouse, Lorient, Lens and Strasbourg brought him five in total.
The latest streak has arrived after a season in Turin in which David had become a target for criticism and whistles. He had hoped to remain at Juventus and make amends for an unconvincing first campaign, but the club’s direction changed before the end of the transfer window. Atletico, already in dialogue with Juventus throughout the summer over Alexander Sorloth and Nico Gonzalez, ultimately kept their Norwegian centre-forward and moved for David instead.
A decision shaped by Spalletti and Juventus
Luciano Spalletti had months to assess David and made several attempts to draw a stronger response from him. The coach’s judgment was also linked to the profile he wanted for his attack: Spalletti preferred a traditional central striker, while David was viewed as better suited to operating alongside a No. 9 rather than leading the line alone.
As the mood around the player worsened, the case for retaining him weakened. Juventus eventually accepted his departure, removing one of the squad’s largest salaries from their wage bill, a contract comparable to Kenan Yildiz’s following the latter’s renewal.
There is also a sporting consolation in Turin. Juventus have brought Nico Gonzalez back into the fold, while Atletico have quickly been rewarded for their choice. David’s form has prompted some Juventus supporters to wonder whether the club may have let go of a player too soon, recalling the cases of Gonzalez and Douglas Luiz, who endured difficult first seasons before recovering their standing.
For now, though, David’s revival belongs to Madrid and Canada. The goals have given Atletico a forward in confidence and turned a painful Juventus exit into a new chapter for a player who has already shown, at Genk and Lille, that he can sustain a scoring run when momentum gathers around him.
