For Juventus, the last few January transfer windows have been more about getting things lined up for the future rather than bringing players in for immediate impact.
That looks to be the case again this January.
We all know about Juve’s pursuit to bring Liverpool midfielder Emre Can in on a free transfer that would see him join the Italian champions’ ranks in the summer. Now, according to Sky Sport Italia, Juve are “very interesting” in signing talented 20-year-old Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer.
Juventus is continuing to work on the transfer market. After the negotiations for Emre Can, they are now looking into various youngsters. In that sense, the bianconeri are very interested in Barella for next season and today in Milan they met with Cagliari (between Paratici and Rossi) and the agent of Barella to discuss.
(Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)
Barella, who could probably be tabbed as one of Italy’s brightest youngsters at this point, was in the starting lineup when Cagliari lost to Juventus this past weekend. Coming out of that game, some Barella-to-Juventus rumors started to fly. As a result, Cagliari President Tommaso Giulini stated “I’ve read everything about his renewal, but we didn’t do it to raise his price. Nicolo deserved a better salary and an extra year on his contract. We want to grow, improve and do everything to keep Nicolo another season. Of course, if there were offers that we couldn’t refuse, upwards of €50 million, then we could discuss it. We’d take the €50 million and strengthen the team.”
Of course, who wouldn’t take €50 million for an up-and-coming player, right?
However, that’s not all Juve and Cagliari reportedly talked about...
They are also working on moves going the other way, as the two clubs spoke about Han and Biancu in addition to Barella, while Cagliari then asked about Audero, Cerri and Calligara.
Barella is the obvious centerpiece to the discussions knowing that he only seems to be getting better for a Cagliari side that, as we saw last weekend, plays a very attacking and up-tempo kind of football.
But like Juventus has done with Atalanta over the last few years, having a consistent working relationship with a smaller club in Italy to not only sign youngsters but also send young players on loan is a big deal. No need to look further than what he’s happened in Bergamo over the last two years — Juventus loans Leonardo Spinazzola and signs Mattia Caldara, both of which have been two of Atalanta’s best players over the last 18 or 19 months.