Juventus Transfers: Why Juve should not sign Alessio Romagnoli
Juventus will have to be remarkably smart with their business this summer. “Smart business” and “Juventus” may not belong to the same category. But, failure in acting clever could cost the Bianconeri another season. Especially amid the pandemic-impacted market, doing cunning deals could be the only escape route for the Old Lady.
But does that include signing Alessio Romagnoli from AC Milan? We are here to say no. The Rossoneri captain has been linked with a move to Turin several times this season.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia) claims both Barcelona and Juventus are interested in the defender. On the other hand, Romeo Agresti reported last month that Juve and Milan could consider making a swap deal between Federico Bernardeschi and Alessio Romagnoli.
Irrespective of the mode of the deal, the fact that remains intact is Juventus’ interest in the player. The 26-year-old is yet to pen new terms with the Milan club, with his current contract set to expire in June 2022.
Signed from Roma in 2015, the centre-half has attracted interest from various Italian and foreign clubs over the years. And it might be this summer when one club from his native land would finally secure his services. But do Juventus need to be that club? We oppose and here are the reasons why.
Worrying injury record
Romagnoli hasn’t played many games for Milan this season. His absence largely notifies his fitness issues. The Anzio-born has spent an injury-ravaged the 2020-21 season. He has had picked up three injuries this term.
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To broaden the subject, Romagnoli has suffered three different calf injuries over the last three seasons. And every time, the injury spell has been quite damaging. In the 2019-20 season, he suffered a calf injury that kept him out of the professional scene for around 87 days.
Fear of Romagnoli’s possible absence made Milan sign Fikayo Tomori on loan from Chelsea last summer. The Englishman has since proved to be an integral signing for the Rossoneri. Romagnoli has made only 22 appearances in Serie A 2020-21.
It has become a piece of common knowledge that repeated injuries at one body part affect a player’s overall consistency. Has that same happened to Romagnoli? We are not completely sure about that. And being unsure about the aftermath of the move, Juventus should better be avoiding making one this summer.
A strange sell-on clause from AS Roma
We mentioned it earlier. And we are going to do it again. Set to expire in June 2022, Romagnoli’s contract at AC Milan contains an unusual sell-on clause.
The defender joined the red half of Milan for a reported transfer fee of €25 million in 2015. While selling him, AS Roma inserted a sell-on clause in his Milan contract.
If the Milan captain is to be sold for a transfer fee above €25 million this summer, the sell-on clause would allow the Giallorossi to procure 25 percent of the part exceeding those €25 million.
It goes like this: if AC Milan gets to sell Romagnoli for €50 million this summer, the Milan-based side club would receive €25 million and would have to pay 25 percent of the remaining €25 million to AS Roma.
It means Juve shouldn’t expect an easy bargain for the centre back as Milan would want to make a substantial amount of profit from the sale of their star player.
Do Juventus need a centre back?
Juventus’ current roster includes five centre backs, with two amongst them edging towards their retirement from football. Yes, we are talking about Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini here.
While the former is bound to Juve’s terms until June 2024, the latter’s contract expires this June. It is still unknown whether Chiellini will hang his boots, sign a new contract at Juventus, or move on to pastures new.
But please, don’t forget the rest. There are talented names such as Matthijs de Ligt, Radu Dragusin, and Merih Demiral. Dragusin has recently put pen to a long-term deal until 2025 with Juve. Plus, Juventus hold their future faith in Merih Demiral. They reportedly rejected an offer from Liverpool for the defender last January.
Next. Why Juventus should not sell Dejan Kulusevski. dark
Now, do Juventus need an extra center back? Considering the future of Chiellini and any possible long-term injury, we have to say yes. But, signing a prodigy like Romagnoli would also endanger the future of the ones signed to be the future of the club. Again, Juventus will have to be very crafty with their transfer activities this summer. A wrong foot forward could ensure their fall from the cliff.