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Through transfer rumor after transfer rumor linking Daniele Rugani with a move away from the best club Italy has to offer these days, his agent maintained that Juventus never had any kind of intentions of parting ways with the 24-year-old defender.
Link to Chelsea? Nope, not happening, his agent said.
Link to Roma? Nope, not happening, his agent said.
Fast forward to the end of March, and we’re reminded once again that Juventus think highly enough of Rugani to keep him around this incredibly talented squad.
Juventus announced on Thursday that they have officially extended Rugani’s contract through the 2022-23 season, a deal that had been talked about off and on for the last handful of months. Rugani, whose previous contract ran through 2021, will reportedly see his salary go up to €3 million net person, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Una storia con la Juve che continua ❤ ⚪⚫@DanieleRugani, bianconero fino al 2⃣0⃣2⃣3⃣ https://t.co/yUD6zhkQ78 pic.twitter.com/k7UFRGyBZK
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) March 28, 2019
Rugani’s career to date has been highlighted by the fact that his playing time hasn’t always been something that you would consider consistent. His venture up the depth chart hasn’t been the quickest of treks, with the (re-)arrival of Leonardo Bonucci this past summer being another thing that has prevented Rugani from getting consistent minutes just when it looked like he was going to get consistent playing time.
In total, Rugani has appeared in 14 games in all competitions this season.
Still just 24 years old, Rugani looks like he won’t end up being the complete force of a defender many tipped him to be when he first came back to the club after his impressive spell at Empoli. But, as he searches for consistent playing time and a consistent performance level, he’s got this going for him: Among all of Juve’s central defenders, he’s still the only one under the age of 30. He’s still young, and obviously still trying to fulfill the potential that has caused him to be so highly rated over the course of the last half-decade.
So, he’s got that going for him, which is nice.
Rugani’s thoughts on his contract being extended were short and sweet:
“It’s a really important day and I’m very happy. It was what I wanted and what I worked for every day. The most important thing is that even from the club, there was the same feeling.”
(Source: juventus.com)
Congrats, Daniele! And I hope you gave your dogs lots of treats today since you’re in such a good mood.