Lois Openda Reflects on Juventus Spell and Chemistry with Jonathan David

Lois Openda has no regrets about his ill-fated spell at Juventus. But he is clear on one thing: the chemistry he once enjoyed with Jonathan David never quite translated alongside Dusan Vlahovic.

The Belgium international, now trying to relaunch himself on loan at Lyon, looked back on his lone season in Turin in an interview with L’Equipe, relayed in Italy by Gazzetta.

“I had good chemistry with David”

Openda arrived at Juventus in 2025 from RB Leipzig with the promise of a clearly defined role. That was the message he received from then club director Damien Comolli.

“I spoke with Damien Comolli, who was then the club director, and he explained how he intended to use me in a difficult league,” Openda recalled.

He walked into a Serie A landscape where only a handful of teams truly play to his strengths.

“In Italy, the team that really exploits depth is Inter. Roma are only just starting to understand it.”

The problem at Juventus was more structural than personal. The forwards already in place occupied his zone and demanded a different style of play.

“The coach wanted me, but Vlahovic and David were already playing in my position,” he said. “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.”

That line cuts to the heart of his frustration: Openda thrives on space, on balls slid into the channels, on defenders turning towards their own goal. Juventus, in that period, often asked their strikers to receive to feet and link play. It dulled his edge.

One goal, 34 games, and a hard decision

Across the 2025-26 campaign, under Igor Tudor and then Luciano Spalletti, Openda never truly settled. The numbers tell the story: just one goal in 34 appearances in all competitions.

“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 pressure, the scrutiny, the weight of expectation at the Allianz Stadium never matched the opportunities on the pitch. Cameos, positional compromises, and a system that rarely attacked the space he loves left him on the fringes.

So he moved. Lyon stepped in for 2026-27, paying €3.5m for a loan with no option to buy. A calculated gamble for the French club. A necessary escape route for the player.

So far, the return is modest but promising: two goals in eight appearances, a hint that the old Openda might still be there if the environment is right.

“It wasn’t a mistake”

Despite the disappointment, he refuses to label Juventus as a wrong turn in his career.

“It wasn’t a mistake, and it allowed me to work on aspects I hadn’t considered,” he said. “I knew exactly what I was getting into, and I’m sure that in other circumstances, it would have gone better.”

That last line lingers. Different coach, different system, different timing — Openda clearly believes his story in Turin could have been written another way.

For now, his future belongs to Lyon and to a season that will help decide what comes next. If he finds the space he craves and the service he needs, the question will return: was Juventus a missed opportunity, or just a harsh lesson on the importance of fit in modern football?