On May 22nd, we covered yet another article from Tuttosport on Matteo Darmian’s never-ending move to Juventus. What made this one different was a little snippet at the end.
The Turin newspaper explained Juventus were looking at other fullback options as well. Not instead of Darmian, that one is considered pretty much certain, but for later in the window.
One of those had been Joao Cancelo, but Juve’s efforts hadn’t got anywhere because it was stated the Portuguese fullback is ‘close’ to Manchester United.
Similar things had been popping in Italy without a great deal of conviction, and it appears that’s the way it’s going. Saturday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport looks at the situation, again from a Juventus perspective.
Inter Milan had the player on loan from Valencia last season with a €35m option to sign him. Right now they don’t have the money to do that deal and have said so publicly.
But Juventus again have the Manchester United problem.
It’s stated Jose Mourinho has taken over in the pursuit of the right back and that United are financially superior and ‘would approach’ the €50m being asked by Valencia.
That fee seems at least a little steep. Inter had the €35m option, and Cancelo is 23 years of age and arguably not the finished article yet. Mourinho may be looking for someone more developed especially if Valencia want to stick to such a fanciful fee.
There may be some interest from Old Trafford in the player, but it seems a lot of blanks are being filled in with speculation presented as something else.
