Spalletti Confirms Perin Starts Against Palermo; Juventus Beats Palermo

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti confirmed that goalkeeper Gianluigi Perin will start in the friendly against Palermo in Perth, Australia, on August 11, 2026, describing the decision as pre-arranged rotation between the two goalkeepers. Spalletti noted that Michele Di Gregorio made several commendable saves in the first half of the previous match against Inter but was unlucky on the second goal. The manager emphasized that transfer market priorities remain unchanged from the start of the window.

Juventus defeated Palermo in the final friendly of the Australian tour, with goals from Kenan Yildiz and Arkadiusz Milik. Spalletti praised the team's intensity and ability to play at a high tempo, highlighting the quality of the opposition. "The match pleased me because it was played at high speeds, against an opponent that knows how to play. We were well-trained in this friendly," he said. The manager noted the squad showed confidence and played interesting triangular passing moves, though acknowledged the need to find better balance to reduce turnovers caused by rushing.

Spalletti addressed squad rotation plans, confirming that defender Matteo Gatti would not start due to minor fatigue and would play a maximum of 20–30 minutes if needed. The goalkeeper rotation follows an agreed schedule: each played one half in the first two matches, then full matches thereafter. The tour provided Spalletti an opportunity to better understand his players' characteristics and develop team mechanics. Regarding Palermo's manager Filippo Inzaghi, Spalletti praised him as destined to become a top-level coach, noting both his playing pedigree and ability to maximize his players' strengths.