Report: Juventus, Udinese reach €20 million agreement for Rolando Mandragora

After spending a year out on loan at now-relegated Crotone, it looks almost certain that Rolando Mandragora will be wearing a black and white jersey for home games next season. Those home games, however, almost certainly won’t be at Allianz Stadium.

According to Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus and bianconeri buddies Udinese have agreed to a deal that will see Mandragora go from one black and white clad team to another. This isn’t a loan deal, either, kids. Mandragora, who Juventus bought from Genoa back in January 2016, is heading to Udinese in a deal that is said to be worth €20 million. And, for you Mandragora fans, no need to worry. Di Marzio adds that Juve will have a buyback clause put into the deal, with the chance to bring him back to Turin for a price tag of €24 million.

Juventus has reached an agreement with Udinese for the permanent sale of the player. The deal is worth 20 million euros. Juventus have also retained a buy-back clause for 24 million euros, in case they would like to repurchase the player.

(Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)

Mandragora, still just 20 years old, appeared in 36 of Crotone’s 38 games last season. Despite his tender age and the tendency for relegation battlers like Crotone obviously was for much of the season, Mandragora led the team in minutes played (3,240) while appearing as a holding midfielder from essentially the first game on.

The key to all of this is two-fold. For one, Juve’s midfield, especially with the arrival of Emre Can, is crowded as hell right now, and even if Juve deemed Mandragora ready to wear their black and white stripes next season, playing time was going to be hard to come by. On top of that, there’s the general consensus that to add somebody of a relatively hefty transfer fee, then Beppe Marotta is going to have to acquire some cash via sales — and Mandragora and his reported €20 million transfer fee figures prominently in that.