Juventus has confirmed that their English X account was hacked, resulting in the publication of a misleading post that falsely announced the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler. The unauthorized post featured a photo of the 19-year-old Turkish international at an airport, accompanied by the caption: “Welcome to Juventus, Arda Guler. The rising star of football is now part of the Juventus family.” This misinformation quickly spread among fans before the club clarified the situation, highlighting the dangers associated with compromised social media accounts.
In response to the incident, Juventus issued a statement on their official Italian X account, stating that their English account had been “compromised” and urging followers to ignore the false information. The club also pointed out that even if they were interested in signing Guler, they would not be able to do so until the January transfer window, as both the Spanish and Italian transfer windows are currently closed. This clarification is crucial, as it helps manage fan expectations and maintains the club’s credibility.
Arda Guler, often referred to as the ‘Turkish Messi,’ joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahce in July 2023 for a reported fee of approximately £16.7 million. Since his arrival, he has made 23 appearances for the Spanish club and has shown immense promise on the field. Notably, Guler was part of the Turkey squad at Euro 2024, where he made history by becoming the youngest player to score on his European Championship debut, netting Turkey’s second goal in their 3-1 victory over Georgia. His impressive performances have attracted significant attention, further complicating any potential transfer discussions.
This incident serves as a reminder of the increasing threats posed by cyberattacks in the sports industry, where unauthorized access to social media accounts can lead to the dissemination of false information, potentially damaging a club’s reputation. Juventus is likely reviewing its social media security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. As clubs continue to navigate the challenges of digital communication, ensuring the security of their online presence is essential for maintaining trust and transparency with fans.
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