The news Manchester United have pulled out of talks to sign Adrien Rabiot is disastrous for Juventus, both financially and in terms of their transfer market strategy.
The clubs had agreed a transfer fee of circa €20m including bonuses, but the deal collapsed when the Premier League fallen giants baulked at the €10m per season salary demands.
His current wages in Turin are €7m per season plus performance-related bonuses, which he achieved thanks to arriving as a free agent from PSG in 2019.
The sudden withdrawal of the deal is a huge blow to the Bianconeri, as they need to sell a midfielder – Rabiot or Arthur Melo, who earns even more – in order to make room for Leandro Paredes from Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Calcio e Finanza, between commission fees and the salary, keeping Rabiot will weigh on Juve’s 2022-23 balance sheet to the tune of €9.541m.
His contract only runs to June 2023, so they are bound to lose him as a free agent next summer and get no remuneration for a sale.
Above all, it prevents Juventus from strengthening their midfield with players who have vastly different characteristics to Rabiot and Arthur, the more creative Paredes.
The only good news is that PSG might be open to a loan with option to buy, which gives Juve at least some room for financial manoeuvre.