Hojbjerg remains the top target; if that deal falls through, the Bianconeri would turn to the Austrian to bolster Spalletti’s midfield

You know the stereotype of the midfielder who’s all muscle, grit, and a menacing look? Well, forget that. Xaver Schlager—a defensive central midfielder by trade, yet capable of carrying the ball from one end of the field to the other—is a target for Juventus between January and June (when he’ll become a free agent from Leipzig) should Plan A (Hojbjerg) fall through. He’s the exact opposite. He prefers reading to watching war movies packed with motivational quotes. “To succeed on the field, it’s important to have my life in order. That’s why I started reading books. I realized it relaxes me—the opposite of what happens when I spend a lot of time on social media,” he says.

Reading and writing, because among Xaver Schlager’s daily activities is also keeping a “6-minute journal.” “I take three minutes every morning and every evening to 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 (even though in the Juventus squad he might be seen as Khephren Thuram’s alter ego), off the field his inspirations are Osho, Hesse, and Coelho. A “philosopher” midfielder, one might say, who is also involved in social causes through the Common Goal project (he donates 1% of his salary to fund charitable initiatives) and remains deeply connected to his roots—so much so that he opened a hotel (“Landgasthaus Dorfrichter”) in his hometown (St. Valentin, Austria).
Juve, how does Xaver Schlager play—  A 28-year-old left-footed player who grew up in Salzburg, Schlager has so far spent most of his career in the Bundesliga (first at Wolfsburg and now at Leipzig) and has already had to deal with several serious injuries: two cruciate ligament tears (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 known for his ability to break up play and drive forward, the Austrian would also bring to Turin his solid international experience, consisting of 49 appearances for the national team and participation in Euro 2020. But above all, he would give Spalletti a player capable, through his approach, of bringing calm to a locker room that, in recent years, has clearly struggled under the weight of the jersey.