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Just as Juventus' first International Champions Cup game saw the second half arrive, word in Italy broke regarding much, much bigger matters. Like, you know, Gonzalo Higuain matters.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Higuain has not only undergone medical examinations in Madrid ahead of his rumored move to the five-time defending Serie A champions, but the 28-year-old Argentine has put pen to paper on a five-year contract with Juventus through the 2019-2020 season. Connect the dots and that means that Juventus will be sending a massive amount of cash to Southern Italy to get the player's release clause triggered.
Juventus have reportedly called Napoli to inform them that they intend to trigger the release clause, which is the next logical step considering the other main parts of the deal have supposedly been completed already.
Gonzalo Higuain has signed contract until 2020 with Juventus. His wage will be 7,5M€/season. Soon Juve will pay release clause to Napoli
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 23, 2016
That sure is something. I mean, when arguably the most reputable source for transfer news in Italy is reporting that medicals have been done and a contract has been signed, it's time to take things rather seriously, I suppose.
What this means for the rest of Juventus' transfer campaign — namely the future of Paul Pogba, because it's only natural to think about it with how much money is involved — still remains to be seen. For all we know, Beppe Marotta could come out later in the day and say all of this is a bunch of crap and that Juve are not even interested in paying anything close to Higuain's release clause.
But if this is true — and like I said, Sky is Italy's most reliable source for transfer happenings — then they've just added the world-class No. 9 that has eluded them for some time now. And teaming him with his countryman in Paulo Dybala? Wowzers. That starting striker partnership is just insane to think about.