Juventus crashed out of the Club World Cup after a 0-1 loss to Real Madrid in the round of 16. The only goal came from young Spanish striker Gonzalo García in the 54th minute, assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović was left on the bench the entire match, sparking outrage among fans and media in Serbia. Adding fuel to the fire, Vlahović liked an Instagram post by Real’s Jude Bellingham congratulating his teammates on the victory. Juventus, coached by Croatian Igor Tudor, is struggling to manage the situation with Vlahović, who refuses to extend his contract and wants to leave the club. Vlahović joined Juventus in January 2022 for a hefty €83.5 million and has scored 56 goals in 58 appearances, but this season he has struggled to find form under Tudor. Real Madrid showed maturity and quality, with Luka Modrić receiving ovations in his farewell, while Juventus failed to reach the quarterfinals. Borussia Dortmund secured the last quarterfinal spot and will face Real next. This match exposed Juventus’ deep troubles as Real marches on toward another trophy.
