On Saturday, Gazzetta dello Sport went with a big story on Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger moving to Juventus at the end of the season.
The story was splashed across the Italian newspaper’s front page, and it was explained the Turin club had beaten the competition to get the defender for next season.
Rudiger’s contract expires at the end of the current season, and even before Chelsea were hit by sanctions his future was uncertain. Gazzetta claimed Rudiger had said ‘yes’ to a four year contract which would see him make €6.5m per season, after tax.
The Growth Decree tax advantage, which sees incomers to Italy pay less tax, was a factor in the offer.
However, not everyone in Italy is convinced.
Journalist Tony Damascelli has insisted that Juventus can’t move for big-wage free agents like Rudiger and Paul Pogba, or signings such as Hakim Ziyech, because they don’t have the room on their wage bill.
Damascelli is quoted by Calciomercato as saying: “The rumours of the market refer to Rudiger and Pogba, but as things stand, there is not the money needed, unless there’s De Ligt’s probable sacrifice.”
Matthijs de Ligt has been tentatively linked with a move this summer, but there’s surely other ways Juventus could go about raising the funds required.
