Jonathan David’s recent performance for Juventus has drawn sharp criticism from Italian sports media following a glaring miss in their 2-2 draw against Villarreal. The Canadian striker, who joined Juventus on a free transfer from Lille over the summer, has struggled to find the back of the net, scoring only once sence his arrival. His latest gaffe, an open-goal miss, has been labeled “indefensible” by publications like Tuttosport.
The incident occurred early in the second half with Juventus trailing 1-0. David received a well-placed pass from Francisco Conceiçao but,inexplicably,struck the ball with his weaker foot,sending it wide of an empty net. This astounding miss has been widely considered one of the most meaningful blunders of the season.
David’s Unforgettable Miss Against Villarreal
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – OCTOBER 01: Players of Juventus pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Villarreal CF and Juventus at Estadio de la Ceramica on October 01, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
The missed prospect came at a crucial juncture for Juventus,who were still searching for an equalizer. David’s inability to convert such a straightforward chance has fueled the ongoing debate about his impact at the club.
David was substituted in the 86th minute, making way for Dusan Vlahovic, as Juventus pushed for a late goal. Though, the damage to his reputation had already been done.
Italian media wasted no time in dissecting David’s performance.Tuttosport, a prominent Turin-based newspaper, awarded him a dismal 4/10 rating.The publication didn’t hold back, calling his miss “indefensible” and sarcastically questioning, Is it a joke?
The paper continued its scathing assessment, stating, It’s impossible to find adjectives…and he should have scored also when he hit the crossbar. Nothing to be saved.
This sentiment highlights the frustration felt by many observers regarding David’s lack of clinical finishing.
Gazzetta dello Sport,along with Football Italia,gave David a rating of 5,describing his miss as hard to understand
and questioning how the striker managed to put the ball out
.
Corriere dello Sport was slightly more forgiving, assigning a 4.5 rating. Their commentary noted, The few times he touched the ball, he sent it out or on the crossbar.
This suggests that even when David was involved in play, his contributions were largely ineffective.
jonathan David|| Most Underrated Striker⁉️|| FCIMThomas’s Cousin‼️|| Leading Scudetto Charge🫡 pic.twitter.com/w2jG0XCTsM
