La Gazzetta dello Sport revealed an intercepted phone call made by Federico Cherubini, who was unhappy with the way that Sassuolo treated Juventus during the talks for Manuel Locatelli.
The Italian midfielder was a key player for the Azzurri in their Euro 2020 success and he earnt a move to Juventus off the back of that tournament, joining the club on a two-year loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy clause attached. Arsenal were widely reported to be in for Locatelli in the summer of 2021 and are still seemingly keen on picking up the Italian.
A phone call made by Cherubini to Juventus’ Chief Financial Officer Stefano Bertola revealed his frustration with the way that Sassuolo negotiated the Locatelli deal with Juventus.
“If I am in partnership and then when I come to buy a player I am treated like a customer who comes for the first time, what kind of partnership is that?
“If I sit down and Giovanni (Carnevali, ed.) gives me the same conditions he gives Edu from Arsenal, who he has never seen in his life, what is the added value of our ten-year relationship?
“What happened to the €8m he earned in six months with Demiral, who didn’t know who he was… and we were supposed to take him but had no room?
“What happened to our decisive support when he got Sensi? And the development of Zaza? And the €13m taken by Lirola?”
The Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office are currently investigating Juventus’ financial practices and recently expanded the scope of their investigation to examine the close relationships the Bianconeri had with a number of other Italian clubs, including Sassuolo and Atalanta.