Juventus have been linked with Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma over the past couple of months. The 22-year-old sensation is a free agent now that the 2020-2021 season has ended, as he rejected Milan’s contract offers. Instead of wanting to stay with the Rossoneri and become a lifetime star, he would like a new challenge. And more money.
The Bianconeri could be that next step for the Milan goalkeeper. It would make a lot of sense for him to move to Turin and play for the biggest club in Italy. And they could give Donnarumma and Mino Raiola the salary he wants.
Wojciech Szczesny is standing in the way. Although Szczesny is coming off a down year, whereas Donnarumma was arguably the best goalkeeper in Serie A, he is still one of the best in the league and held the distinction of being “the best” in 2019-2020.
According to a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, while Juventus do indeed like Gianluigi Donnarumma, they can only buy him if they are able to move Szczesny. That will be difficult to do. Not only is Szczesny under contract, but it seems like no club who could meet his demands in prestige and wages actually need a goalkeeper. Beyond that, Di Marzio notes that returning manager Max Allegri is a fan of the former Roma man.
Juventus don’t have much room to operate with their current wage bill and the presence of Wojciech Szczesny
Donnarumma is now being strongly linked with a possible move to Barcelona by Di Marzio after Marc Andre ter-Stegen’s disappointing season at the Camp Nou. La Blaugrana have already signed two big-name free agents in Premier League duo Sergio Aguero and Georginio Wijnaldum, so Donnarumma could be the next addition for the cash-strapped club.
Juventus don’t have much money to spend either. Donnarumma is a free transfer, but, as Juventini know, these players cost a fair bit in salary. And Juve don’t have much wage space to navigate. Beyond already having Szczesny at keeper, Juve are paying a lot of money to players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, and Aaron Ramsey. Any of those three players could be moved this summer, but the point remains that they don’t have much room to operate.
We can’t count Juve out of the battle for Donnarumma. This move could still happen. But we can’t call the Bianconeri favorites, since the Szczesny obstacle is a truly big one. Secondarily, the wages to Donnarumma are another big question mark, exacerbated by Szczesny’s presence.