Official: Bianconeri win race for talented Serie B defender

Juventus pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat on Sunday as reports emerged of the club completing a deal to sign the highly sought-after Frosinone defender Federico Gatti.

Gatti has enjoyed a stellar season in Serie B with his stout form helping seventh-place Frosinone to the third-best defensive record in the division. The 23-year-old is regarded as one of Italy’s most promising centre-backs and he had several clubs pursuing him this month.

The Bianconeri weren’t expected to conduct any defensive business before the deadline but the opportunity to sign Gatti was one the Turin giants couldn’t turn down. Juve moved swiftly to complete a deal before Monday’s deadline.

Federico Gatti has joined Juventus but he’ll be loaned back to Frosinone for the remainder of the season

Romeo Agresti reported that a deal for Gatti was wrapped up on Sunday night and the defender arrived at J-Medical on Monday morning to undergo a medical. The player joins in a €7.5m deal from Frosinone and he’ll be loaned back to the Serie B club for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.

Gatti will be hoping to thrust his side into the playoffs come the end of the campaign.

The Italian defender’s breakout year in Italy’s second tier led to many of Calcio’s top dogs taking notice. Inter Milan, Napoli and Torino are all said to have expressed an interest in signing the 23-year-old, but it’s Juventus who acted swiftly to win the race.

Overall, this is a signing that points very much to the future. Daniele Rugani’s form this term has lessened the need for an immediate solution at centre-back. But, the respective ages of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini combined with the uncertainty surrounding Matthijs de Ligt’s future in the summer means that it’s a position that had to be addressed soon.

In Gatti, Juve might have unearthed a gem.