Today, when data analysis and algorithms are increasingly dominating the football world, 75-year-old Pantaleo Corvino is still a "craftsman" who relies on intuition and experience to find players. As the sports director of the Lecce club, he gave an exclusive interview on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Turin Sports News, sharing his work style, and focusing on two players related to Juventus, Vlahovic and Jurmand.

In the past fifty years of career as a sports director, Corvino has discovered and sold many players at a high price, with Vlahovic, Jurmand and Dogu being typical examples. "Although I am about to enter my 50th year as athletic director, my approach has basically not changed because it still brings me a huge sense of satisfaction." He admitted that he would use modern technology to assist in transfer work, but firmly believed that "nothing can replace the human eye. Talent needs to be felt by hand." He maintains a small scouting network with only one assisting youth training and the other in charge of the first team, also based on its sustainability philosophy. "I believe in my judgment very much." When evaluating players, he first looks at "degree of dexterity and ease of completing technical movements", followed by other aspects such as physical fitness and strength.

Speaking of Juventus midfield signing target Jurmand, Corvino still remembers his first visit. "I remember very clearly that his Admira team was fast against Vienna. He didn't play at the time when I imagined the position of the midfielder, but I needed a playmaker who could be placed in front of the defense line, and I knew he wouldn't let me down. I could tell from the way he touched the ball." Corvino said that he had never doubted Jurmand's ability, knew that he needed time to adapt to the new position, and based on his experience in playing similar positions, he gave him some basic advice: stay behind the ball and pass the ball forward more in a multi-way manner.

Corvino praised Jurmand as "a young man of extraordinary in every aspect, a natural leader." "In Lecce, we fight for relegation every year, which inevitably comes with pain. He often sees me worrying or angry and comes to comfort me and tells me to rest assured that he and his teammates will solve all the troubles. He has the strength and determination."

Corvino was an important mentor in Vlahovic's early career, brought him to Florence for 1.5 million euros and sold to Juventus two years later for 80 million euros. Corvino bluntly defended Vlahovic's current troubles and future at Juventus: "This is a deal that still makes me proud."

Corvino said, "What I can say is that criticism is always useful because it motivates you to improve. But analyzing his situation, I think the number of accusations against him is too much. Juventus is trying to create conditions to return to the top, and I think Vlahovic has contributed to it. Just look at his goals, and he has averaged one goal every 2-3 games since joining. Can he ask for more?! In such a period of reconstruction, it is difficult to find a striker who is more efficient than him. Moreover, he is still young..."

Corvino believes that excessive criticism has hindered Vlahovic's growth at Juventus: " Of course! This will be true for anyone. He has always shown a strong desire to learn and improve. When I was working in Florence, the office window was facing the training ground, and I often saw him practicing alone against the wall after training. This is something I have never seen anyone do. I have to drive him out of the training ground or he will practice until night. I shouted at him through the window and asked him to stop and change clothes. The criticism now has really crossed all the boundaries. It makes me feel sorry for me."

When asked if he would choose to leave Juventus under the current circumstances if he was Vlahovic, Corvino did not directly answer, "This is not what I should judge. I believe Juventus is very clear about what to do. Now Modesto is here, he is a sports director I respect very much. I believe he will do well in Juventus."