Hojbjerg remains the primary target, but if he is unavailable, the Bianconeri will focus on the Austrian to strengthen Spalletti’s midfield.

Are you familiar with the stereotype of the midfielder who is all muscle, determination, and has a mean face? Well, forget it. Xaver Schlager, a defensive midfielder by trade but capable of carrying the ball from one end of the field to the other, is Juve’s target between January and June (when he will be released on a free transfer from Leipzig) should plan A Hojbjerg fall through. He is the exact opposite. He prefers reading to watching battle movies full of motivational phrases. “To be successful on the field, it’s important to have my life in order. That’s why I started reading books. I realized it relaxes me. It’s the opposite of what happens when I spend a lot of time on social media,” is his life lesson.
Reading and writing, because Xaver Schlager’s daily activities also include writing a “6-minute diary.” “I take three minutes every morning and every evening and answer the same questions,” he revealed. “What am I grateful for?” “What would I like to do today?” and I write a positive message.” While his childhood idol on the field was Thierry Henry (although in the Juventus squad he could be considered the alter ego of Khephren Thuram), off the field his references are Osho, Hesse, and Coelho. A “philosopher” midfielder, one might say, he is also involved in social issues with the Common Goal project (donating 1% of his salary to fund charitable initiatives) and is so attached to his roots that he has opened a hotel (“Landgasthaus Dorfrichter”) in his hometown (St. Valentin, Austria).
juve, how xaver schlager plays—  A 28-year-old left-footed player who grew up in Salzburg, Schlager has so far developed his career mainly in the Bundesliga (first at Wolfsburg and now at Leipzig) and has already had to deal with several serious injuries: two cruciate ligament ruptures (in 2021 and 2024) and numerous ankle problems, including a syndesmotic ligament injury (in 2023). In addition to his technical skills as a defensive midfielder and his verticality, the Austrian would also bring to Turin his considerable international experience, with 49 caps for his country and participation in Euro 2020. Above all, he would give Spalletti a player capable, with his approach, of bringing serenity to a dressing room that, in recent years, has shown itself to suffer greatly from the weight of the shirt.