Background of January Southampton deal revealed – All down to director, had wanted player for a while

In January, Juventus surprised everyone when they struck a deal with Southampton for the paid loan of Carlos Alcaraz.

The move appeared to come out of thin air, but Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday provide a bit of background information.

It’s explained the move for the Southampton midfielder comes from Cristiano Giuntoli, Juventus’ director of football, who joined the club last summer.

He had previously been in charge of transfers at Napoli, and Gazzetta point out the Serie A champions ‘had sought him out in the past’.

Unable to get him then, the director ‘didn’t stop following him’ and ‘managed to bring him’ to Italy from Southampton in January.

It’s not said exactly whether Giuntoli wanted him at Napoli when he was still at Racing Club or after his move to St Mary’s, but it gives everyone an idea of how this move was put together and by whom.

Ironically enough, there is also a strong chance that he will make his first full start for Juventus… against Napoli.

Since joining the Serie A club from Southampton, the Argentine has been used from the bench on three separate occasions, but injuries to Weston McKennie and Adrien Rabiot means Max Allegri is expected to turn to him for the big clash this weekend.