Juventus’ decision to sign Lloyd Kelly from Newcastle United on a permanent deal has sparked another round of debate in Italy, even though the defender has slowly grown into an important figure in Turin.
Kelly initially arrived on loan and spent the early stages of his time in Serie A trying to settle into a completely new environment. As expected, it took him some time to adjust, but his progress has been clear for anyone willing to see it.
Earlier in the campaign, Kelly produced two standout moments when he scored crucial goals against Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund. Those performances helped silence doubts about whether he could make an impact at the top level.
As the season has gone on, he has started twelve league matches and become a trusted option for Luciano Spalletti. He began by playing on the left side of the defence but has since shown enough versatility to slot into the centre of a back three, a role he has handled with calmness and maturity.
Despite these positives, fresh criticism has arrived this time from journalist Andrea Bosco, who spoke to TuttoJuve and did not hold back his opinion.
Bosco argued that Kelly was never good enough for Juventus and claimed he was only a reserve player at Newcastle, suggesting he would even struggle to hold a place in Serie B. His harsh comments were then widely circulated by Italian outlets, including AreaNapoli.
Bosco went further by blaming Juventus for the signing, stating that the club could have used the money spent on Kelly to bring in “a real player” during the January window, such as young defender Leoni.
His frustration mirrored earlier doubts that surfaced the moment Kelly arrived, with some critics questioning his pedigree and suitability for a top club.
However, many of these complaints feel exaggerated when compared to Kelly’s actual performances on the pitch. While he may not be the flashiest defender or a headline-grabber, he has been steady, reliable and more than capable of competing in Serie A.
His defensive work, positional intelligence and willingness to adapt have all been clear throughout the season.
Kelly has by no means been a disaster. In fact, considering the adaptation required when moving from England to Italy, he has handled himself impressively.
Juventus signed him because they believed he could grow into a valuable squad member, and so far, he has shown enough to justify that faith.
Although the criticism continues, much of it seems disconnected from the reality of what he has contributed. If anything, his journey this season shows that he is far stronger than many of the labels being thrown at him.
