Reports are emerging that Juventus have finally agreed terms with Sassuolo for Manuel Locatelli, at €35m on a two-year loan with obligation to buy, after weeks of talks.
The negotiations have been going all summer and the player made it abundantly clear from the start his only desire was to join Juve, rejecting a more lucrative proposal from Arsenal.
Because the Neroverdi were forced to turn down that €40m plus bonuses from the Gunners, they were determined to not cut many more corners for the Bianconeri.
Juve tried to get a two-year loan with option to buy, the obligation triggered by Champions League qualification, but Sassuolo stayed firm.
Now Goal.com, Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia, Gazzetta dello Sport and more are all confident today’s meeting was the final hurdle.
Juventus finally accepted the demands to make it an obligation to buy, but still spread the costs out over several years.
The obligation won’t be activated until the first point of the 2022-23 season, so it is a very similar deal to the one Juve did with Fiorentina for Federico Chiesa.
Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedulla’ claims Sassuolo also have a 20 per cent cut of any future fee.
The 23-year-old could’ve commanded a far higher fee after being part of Italy’s UEFA EURO 2020-winning side, but he had already been close to Juve last summer and had his heart set on a Turin transfer.
Manuel Locatelli to Juventus, done deal confirmed and here-we-go! Total agreement completed with Sassuolo for €35m plus add ons. Contract until June 2026. ⚪️⚫️🇮🇹 #Juventus
Official announcement in the next few days. Done deal. pic.twitter.com/ge7nUgXGOc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 17, 2021
What a signing, can’t wait to see him in Bianconero.
Finally a signing to address our glaring need for a midfielder who can be a box-to-box player. He will have to do a lot defensively, but is capable.
Locatelli, Rabiot and Bentancur/McKennie as a 3 man midfield would be solid enough in my opinion to not a be a weakness.
Atlast 🙏 ☺️👊🍀 Forza Juve .. Forza Italia
One more mediocre player. Well done juve..