Juan Cuadrado Apologizes to Juventus Fans: The Truth After Three Years
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Juan Cuadrado reflects on his move from Juventus to Inter, a decision that sparked controversy in the summer of 2023 and still stings for some Juventus fans today. The Colombian, now 38 and back playing in his home country with Millonarios, reflected on his time in Italy in an interview with Tuttosport on the eve of the Fiorentina-Juventus match. Above all, he wanted to send a message to Juventus fans: “Today, I’d like to apologize to the fans I let down.”
The winger made 314 appearances for Juventus, winning numerous trophies and becoming one of the key figures of the Bianconeri’s golden era. It’s a bond that, despite his subsequent transfer to Inter, has never truly been broken. “The first thing that comes to mind is the greatness of the club. Being part of an important chapter in Juve’s history is an honor,” he said.
Cuadrado explained that he never wanted to leave Turin. When his contract expired, he said, it seemed there was a possibility of continuing the relationship, partly because Massimiliano Allegri wanted to keep him. “I was really sorry about it; Allegri would have kept me. At that point, my contract had come to an end, and we’d reached a verbal agreement. For me, the Continassa was home; I loved the people and the fans,” he recalled.
Then came the decision to join Inter, which inevitably provoked a reaction from some of the Bianconeri supporters. The Colombian admitted that he didn’t immediately grasp the significance of that transfer: “I went to Inter, and at the time I didn’t realize just how intense the rivalry was. I just wanted to play—when you’re an active player, you don’t overthink things. When I joined them, I realized I’d hurt the Juventus community, even if unintentionally.”
Three years later, the regret is still evident. “I would have stayed; I would have liked to end my career at Juve. I didn’t want to hurt anyone,” he added, reaffirming his attachment to the Juventus colors. Hence his apology to the fans: “I’ve won a lot; I’ve made club history, and I hope that, over time, people’s opinion of me will be reassessed. On the field, I always gave 200% for myself and for Juve—I felt like a true Juventino. I tried to live up to the standards of a club like that.”
