Openda statistics reveal worrying extent of Juventus misfire
Lois Openda’s difficult debut season at Juventus has taken another unusual turn, with the Belgian striker sharing images on social media of himself undergoing an extensive cupping therapy session, covered from head to toe in the traditional Chinese medicine cups in a photo that, as Tuttosport put it, looked more like a torture scene than a recovery treatment.
While athletes occasionally use cupping to aid muscle recovery, the sheer extent of Openda’s session left supporters and observers genuinely taken aback.
It is a striking image of a player trying everything to turn his fortunes around, and the numbers make clear just how badly that turnaround is needed.
Openda struggles as Juventus could seek to cash in early
Juventus signed Openda for €40.6 million on a compulsory purchase obligation after an initial €3.3 million loan, with gross annual wages of €7.4 million running until 2030.
The total outlay makes for uncomfortable reading when set against his output.
Across all competitions, 23 Serie A appearances totalling 684 minutes, plus two Coppa Italia and eight Champions League outings, the former RB Leipzig striker has scored just one goal, against Roma in a 2-1 win on 20 December.
The arithmetic, as Tuttosport calculates, is brutal.
His total cost works out at approximately €51,661 per minute played across all competitions. Restricting the calculation to Serie A alone, the figure rises to a staggering €75,000 per minute when factoring in both transfer fee and wages.
Juventus will face enormous difficulty recouping anything close to their investment should they choose to move him on this summer, and with the club already planning significant attacking reinforcements, Openda’s time in Turin looks increasingly limited.