Football is the game of sheer unpredictability, as they would say. They are right; the unforeseen outcomes on the field are the signs. The equation is a bit different off the field, but the consequence remains the same: victory for one and harassment in the face of the other. Juventus recently suffered the latter, while pursuing a dream far from their reach.
Even a fortnight ago, it was looking possible. Gianluigi Donnarumma seemed destined to join the Bianconeri on a free transfer. Not many would’ve seen this deal falling apart in the same way it has over the course of the last few days.
Out of the blue, Paris Saint-Germain swooped in and are now closer than ever to signing the Italian international on a free transfer. The ship has apparently sailed, leaving Juventus in the mood of utter disgust and exasperation. Donnarumma’s signing would’ve served Juve on a longer run. But it doesn’t even matter anymore. Now, we need to stop mourning and start looking at the bright side.
Financial aspect
Juventini were happy with the idea of signing Gianluigi Donnarumma. At the end of the day, it was going to be a free transfer, which would’ve provided them with a long-term surety in the team’s first-choice goalkeeping position. But was it going to be a free transfer? In terms of not spending a penny on the transfer fee, we are obliged to say yes. But it would’ve been far from being a financially solid business.
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As per a reliable Italian journalist in Fabrizio Romano, Gianluigi Donnarumma will put pen to a five-year contract with PSG that will warrant him a net salary of €12 million per season, making PSG spend a total amount of around €60 million in salary on only one player over five years. Even though no transfer fee is included in the move, Donnarumma’s agent, Mino Raiola, has reportedly bagged an agent fee of around €20 million. Now, does it feel like a free transfer?
This could’ve been Juventus paying a ridiculous amount of money in commission to Mino Raiola and apparently endangering their already-broken wage structure. Amid the financial turmoil when the Piedmontese club is losing millions on a daily basis, trying not to emulate PSG in the race for the 22-year-old starlet is the most rational move Juventus have made recently in the transfer market.
Abrupt changes to the rank would’ve made things worse
Let alone the financial aspect and how Juventus would feel the economical burden of the deal if it were to complete, things could’ve gone bad to worse as well due to some sudden changes to the rank. How? Let’s elaborate. Juventus’ long-term hero Gianluigi Buffon has already said “adios!” to Juventus fans, confirming his departure from Turin this summer. It suggests that Juventus will be in the market for a second-choice goalkeeper, with Mattia Perin reluctant to play the role and Carlo Pinsoglio too old to satisfy the demands of Juve’s second-choice custodian. It feels like chaos, no?
Signing Donnarumma would have only enhanced the volume of the upheaval. Juve would then have two first-choice goalkeepers in Wojciech Szczęsny and Donnarumma, with both demanding the status of the team’s No. 1. Juventus will have to begin their hunt for a potential buyer for Szczęsny in the middle of the uncertainty around the second-choice goalkeeping berth in the club. It would’ve been an enjoyable show for the neutrals but not so for the devotees of the 36-time Scudetto winners.
It would’ve been a complete transformation at the goalkeeping department. And such radical alternations don’t end up well too often. That being said, the situation is now more straightforward. With Donnarumma potentially joining PSG, Juve will now only be looking to land a keeper, who will be able to play the role of the second-choice shot-stopper for the Italian club.
Szczęsny justifies another chance at Juventus
In a season where Juventus won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, their No. 1 goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny saw things happening, but not in his favour every time. To be blunt, the Polish international had quite a demeaning 2020-21 season in Italy, perhaps the worst season since leaving Arsenal for the first time in 2015.
Playing 30 games for Juventus last season in Serie A, the 31-year-old kept only six clean sheets, recording a successful save percentage of 70.5 (his career-worst in Italy), denoting that he had a pretty bad season under the bars for the Bianconeri. But should it be the end of the world for him? Absolutely no!
As depicted in deeper terms by Kevin Parvizi in his piece, the inconsistent midfield and defence didn’t help Szczęsny’s cause at all last season. They lost possession too easily and left their goalkeeper to make efforts that eventually went in vain too frequently. Still considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Szczęsny certainly deserves another chance at Juventus. The situation is now bound to change. Possibly under a new manager in Massimiliano Allegri, the Pole would find his chief gloves and lead the Juventini to another Scudetto from the back next term.