With transfer news currently surfacing at a premium, outside of Manuel Locatelli, of course, much of the focus at Juventus has been the respective futures of two stars: Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both of their contracts expire next summer and with Juve unable to tie either of them down to an extension up to this point, the possibility of the pair departing this summer has emerged as a worrying potentiality for Juventini.
Vice-president Pavel Nedved, however, offered words of encouragement following the Bianconeri’s pre-season victory over Cesena on Saturday.
Dybala optimism
Regarding Dybala, who the club are hopeful of tying down to a new long-term contract, Nedved said: “[Director Federico] Cherubini has already been in contact with his agent, who will arrive in Turin next week,” Nedved told Sky Sport Italia, as quoted by Football Italia.
“We are in good time to get the situation resolved, it’s not a problem. Relations are not cold,” he added.
As the Bianconceri legend alluded to, Dybala’s agent, Jorge Antun, will be in Italy next week to open talks with the Juventus board over a new long-term deal.
Last week, the Bianconeri told Barcelona that the Argentine was not for sale amid rumours of a potential Antoine Griezmann/Dybala exchange.
Cool over Cristiano
Nedved was also cool over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo who, according to Romeo Agresti, is expected to start pre-season on Monday after arriving in Turin on Sunday afternoon.
The all-time great enjoyed a holiday in Majorca with his family following Portugal’s elimination from Euro 2020 in the round of 16.
The free-spending Paris Saint-Germain reportedly hold an interest in signing the Portuguese forward this summer amid fears that Juve will struggle to afford Ronaldo’s hefty salary considering their current financial strains.
However, when Nedved was asked about the 36-year-old’s future, the Czech confidently stated that Ronaldo “will stay with us [Juventus].”
If that’s not reassuring…
Nevertheless, if the club are able to convince Ronaldo to remain in Turin, they’ll then have to move swiftly regarding discussions over a new deal.