Lois Openda Reflects on Juventus Spell and Move to Lyon
Lois Openda has no regrets about his ill-fated spell at Juventus. He does, however, have a clear idea of why it never truly caught fire.
Speaking to L’Equipe about his solitary season in Turin, the Belgium international reflected on a year that yielded just one goal in 34 appearances under Igor Tudor and Luciano Spalletti, before his summer loan move to Lyon.
“It wasn’t a mistake”
Openda left RB Leipzig for Juventus in 2025 with high expectations and a defined plan in mind.
“I spoke with Damien Comolli, who was then the club director, and he explained how he intended to use me in a difficult league,” he said, outlining the thinking behind the move. He insists he walked into Serie A with his eyes open.
“It wasn’t a mistake, and it allowed me to work on aspects I hadn’t considered. I knew exactly what I was getting into, and I’m sure that in other circumstances, it would have gone better.”
The problem, in his view, wasn’t ambition. It was fit.
A runner in a team that didn’t run in behind
Openda is at his best attacking space, stretching defences, living on the shoulder of the last man. That, he suggests, never quite matched Juventus’ habits.
“In Italy, the team that really exploits depth is Inter. Roma are only just starting to understand it,” he said, pointing to a tactical culture that doesn’t always favour his profile.
“The coach wanted me, but Vlahovic and David were already playing in my position,” he continued. Competition was fierce, and the style of the forwards around him didn’t always complement his own movement.
“I had good chemistry with David, but the team wasn’t used to playing with a player who runs in behind, and Vlahovic tended to keep the ball to himself.”
The chemistry with Jonathan David was there. The collective patterns were not. For a forward who lives on service into space, that disconnect proved costly.
Realising it was time to go
Openda battled for minutes throughout the 2025-26 campaign, trying to force his way into a side that never fully adapted to him.
“I tried to get my chance, and sometimes I did, but towards the end of the season, I realised that to play, I had to leave,” he admitted.
The numbers underline that conclusion: one goal in all competitions, limited impact, and a role that rarely felt central. By the time the season closed, the answer was obvious — at least to him.
A fresh start in Lyon
Now 26 and on loan at Lyon, Openda has begun to rebuild. Two goals in eight appearances so far this season hint at a player rediscovering rhythm in a league more accustomed to his direct, vertical style.
Lyon paid €3.5m to secure his services for the 2026-27 campaign, with no option to buy. It is a temporary home, but a crucial stage.
For Openda, Juventus was not a wrong turn, just a road that never quite opened up. The next question is simple: in a team built to run, how far can he go?
