Fransisco Conceicao's emotional response to being substituted in Juventus' recent Europa League clash against Celta Vigo has raised eyebrows. The 23-year-old winger was replaced in the 64th minute while the scores were level, and his reaction might have opened a door for Chelsea.
Although Juventus clinched a 2-1 victory, the incident involving Conceicao overshadowed the result. After being called off the pitch by manager Luciano Spalletti, the Portuguese seemed visibly angry, striking the bench multiple times before heading straight to the dressing room.
Despite the outburst, Conceicao was quick to downplay the drama post-match, insisting there was no conflict with the coaching staff. He said:
I wasn't arguing with anyone. I left the pitch, tapped the bench lightly, and didn’t get into any argument.
I went to the dressing room, changed my shirt, went to the toilet and then returned.
Conceicao urged everyone not to blow the incident out of proportion:
We should focus on the real things, not this. It’s better to discuss the second half and the fact that we won.
Spalletti also opted for a measured response, hinting that he expects more from the winger in future performances:
It’s better if he's angry with himself. If it’s not the case, then we can discuss it together.
But I think he was frustrated mostly with his own game.
In a prior match against Cagliari, Spalletti substituted Conceicao at half-time, and he has yet to complete a full 90 minutes this season. This current situation may very well attract the attention of Chelsea, who evaluated Conceicao as a potential target should Pedro Neto leave, with interest from Manchester City also in the mix.
Having moved to Juventus from Porto two years ago for €32 million, Conceicao has since established himself as a pivotal player for the Turin side. Primarily operating on the right wing and cutting in onto his stronger left foot, he also demonstrates versatility by being capable of playing closer to the centre, a quality that previously caught Chelsea's eye.
The player is represented by Jorge Mendes, who maintains a close working relationship with the London club.
