Center-back Dean Huijsen was sent on loan to AS Roma for the second half of last season, and subsequently sold to Bournemouth after turning down a move to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Having appeared to be a prized asset for the Turin titans, it was a surprise that the teenager was shifted on as Juve had already refused to sell Huijsen to Roma.
Bournemouth came into the equation and bagged a bargain deal by forking out just €15.2m (US$15.7m), with up to €3m (US$3.1m) in bonuses last July.
Amsterdam-born Huijsen, who moved from Malaga to Juventus in 2021, spoke candidly to Spanish sports paper MARCA and stated: “I went on loan to Roma, I came back and I understand that they [Juventus] wanted to sell me or do whatever the club needed last summer.
“But I arrived the first day after the summer break and they told me I had to go, but that they wouldn't force me. And then they forced me, they made me train alone and things like that.
“It was a bit bad because I had been there for three years, from the U-17s, and I just wanted to try to play with the Juve first team.”
Much in demand across Europe
Now the 19-year-old is being monitored by a cluster of European giants in England, Italy and Spain with a price tag of €60 million (US$61.8m). Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, PSG and Real Madrid are among his admirers.
The Bianconeri will net 10% of any sale as a financial bonus if Huijsen moves on in the summer, which was in their agreement with Bournemouth, with a potential €6m (US$6.2m).
Manchester United would be his best bet if Huijsen decides to remain in England as the defensive backline urgently needs a revamp.
PSG, who signed Willian Pacho after missing out on Huijsen, are ready to reignite their interest. The French side’s defender Milan Skriniar has been sent out on loan to Turkish team Fenerbahce, and is not part of their future plans.
Should Bournemouth finish the season high enough to secure a Champions League berth, the financial windfall from Europe competition next term means that they may be extremely unwilling to let one of their prized prospects leave.