Earlier in the transfer window, there were repeat claims from the Italian media detailing Arsenal’s interest in Manuel Locatelli.
The Gunners were battling it out with Juventus for the midfielder’s signature and in the end, the Serie A winners won the race on August 18th.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side took the Italy international from Sassuolo on a free two-year loan deal, with an obligation to buy in 2023 for a €25m fixed fee plus €12.5m in potential bonuses.
The 23-year-old’s firm desire to join the Old Lady over Arsenal or any other club forced Sassuolo to be ‘creative’ in finding an agreement with Juventus.
This was confirmed by Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali during an interview with Gazzetta di Modena, where he defended the formula agreed by his side to allow Locatelli to join the Turin club.
“Not easy to understand for those who do not have the skills. This operation has brought a positive result and benefits to both clubs, even if certain technicalities are complicated to explain,” he said.
“Surely it is wrong to say and think that we ‘gave’ Locatelli to Juve for two years, someone even spoke of an immoral operation. These are senseless concepts. The reality is that at the end of the 2022/23 season for Juve, the obligation to sell will be triggered and we will be guaranteed to collect the over 37 million agreed upon.”
With Arsenal failing to acquire the Euro 2020 winner’s services, Carnevali was quizzed whether he ‘regrets’ not selling the player to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Responding to that, he said: “They offered us 40 million, but Locatelli’s will was to go only to Juventus and we did everything to please him. A request, that of Arsenal, which cost us something…”
Locatelli’s decision to snub Arsenal for Juventus has not only stopped Sassuolo from earning more money, but it also cost the player €10m over the course of his contract.
