Juventus head coach Igor Tudor remains optimistic about their Club World Cup campaign, even though they will tackle Real Madrid in Tuesday’s knockout last 16.
Defending champions Manchester City gave the Turin titans a masterclass in their final group game. Juve's failings in front of shotstopper Michele Di Gregorio, for the third time on the spin in the cash-rich competition, were all too apparent.
Following the lame 5-2 reversal, when only substitute Kenan Yildiz impressed, Tudor needs urgent reinforcements. He will need to keep an eye on Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona, and in particular the situation of their unwanted center-back Ronald Araujo.
Barca striker swerves Juve
The Bianconeri missed out on signing Barcelona striker Ansu Fati this summer, as he extended his contract and will be loaned to AS Monaco, and in the winter transfer window failed to tempt Araujo to Turin.
Following failed negotiations with Juve, Araujo’s team-mates encouraged him to stay with the 26-year-old Uruguay international signing a new deal with the Catalans until June 2031.
His contract includes a release clause, only valid for the first two weeks of the summer transfer window, with a set price tag of €65 million (US$76.1m).
Renewed interest in Araujo
Juventus are expected to table an initial offer around half of that mark, knowing that Barcelona are aiming to offload at least one central defender before next season and that Araujo commands a high salary.
It would still be a healthy profit for Barca, who bagged him for a bargain €4.7m (US$5.3m) from CA Boston River in his native country seven years ago.
Juve face competition from Chelsea for Araujo, with interest from Bayern Munich having waned.