Lloyd Kelly would struggle in Serie B claim sparks Juventus backlash

Lloyd Kelly would struggle in Serie B claim has reignited debate in Turin after journalist Andrea Bosco delivered a scathing assessment of the Juventus defender’s value. Signed permanently from Newcastle United in the summer following a mixed loan spell, Kelly has quietly grown into a reliable figure under Luciano Spalletti. Yet despite clear progress, criticism continues to follow him — and this latest attack has struck a louder note.

Kelly arrived from Newcastle as a player adapting to a new league, a new defensive structure, and a far more demanding tactical environment. But after initial concerns, he has produced meaningful contributions this season. His goals against Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund lifted Juventus during key early-season moments, and he has since collected 12 Serie A starts while operating both centrally and on the left of a back three.

Still, not everyone is convinced — and some observers seem determined not to be.

Having followed Juventus closely this year, it’s clear Kelly has become far more settled than critics want to acknowledge. The move from Premier League depth option to Serie A starter is not straightforward, yet he has navigated that shift with increasing confidence.

Although some argue he lacks the ceiling to anchor Juve long-term, others point to the structural clarity Spalletti has provided. Kelly’s ability to slide from LCB to the middle of a back three has been particularly valuable in matches where Juventus must adjust mid-game to changing attacking shapes.

It’s also worth noting that Bosco’s assessment — that a player starting regularly in Serie A could “struggle in Serie B” — leans more toward provocation than analysis. That nuance matters when discussing a defender who, far from being a liability, has earned trust from two managers with notably different tactical demands.

In our view, Lloyd Kelly would struggle in Serie B claim says more about the punditry climate around Juventus than the player himself. Having watched his integration closely, the defender is not a star — but nor is he the disaster some insist he is.

There is a long-standing trend in Italian football media of fixating on one signing as a lightning rod for frustration. Kelly appears to have inherited that role this season, perhaps due to his Premier League background, perhaps due to the modest transfer fee compared to glamorous alternatives.

Although Bosco argues Juve “could have signed Leoni,” this feels optimistic considering January inflation and Inter’s firm valuation. Even if true, that hypothetical does not retroactively diminish Kelly’s contributions.

The more grounded conclusion is this: Kelly is performing at a steady, functional level while adapting to elite tactical coaching. And for a defender in his first full season in Serie A, that should be considered progress rather than failure.

Juventus continue their Serie A campaign with fixtures against Bologna and AS Roma, where Kelly is expected to feature again. His minutes and consistency will dictate whether the perception shift continues — or whether critics remain unmoved regardless of performance.

👉 Juve fans — is the criticism fair, or has Lloyd Kelly earned far more respect than he gets?