Juventus head coach Igor Tudor has experienced a fraught time since securing Champions League soccer in the last game of the season.
He was elevated from interim head coach to permanent manager, after playing hard ball with the club’s hierarchy. Tudor took his troops to tackle the FIFA Club World Cup, where they exited to Real Madrid in the last 16.
Their defensive frailties were only punished by a makeshift Manchester City side in the cash-rich competition, but were exposed by Serie B outfit AC Reggiana in a pre-season friendly last Saturday.
With Juventus cash-strapped, targets have slipped through their fingers and clubs are apprehensive of splashing the cash on the Tudor’s unwanted players.
Yet there is some potentially good news for Juventus and their fans, as last season’s successful loanee Renato Veiga could be back with the Turin titans in time to kick off their Italian top-flight campaign on 24 August.
Center-back Veiga, who made 13 Serie A appearances after arriving during the winter transfer season, was a revelation for the Bianconeri.
Tudor wanted to sign him, but the 22-year-old Portugal international returned to Chelsea. Veiga was surprisingly omitted from Chelsea's Club World Cup squad, which lifted the trophy, and was then added to the Premier League club’s transfer list with an asking price of €40 million (US$46.6m).
Spanish deal breakdown for Veiga
Yet Veiga was recently on the brink of joining Atletico Madrid for €25m (US$29.1m), only for the deal to collapse despite negotiations reaching an advanced stage. This figure means Juve could land a bargain deal should Chelsea not demand a straightforward purchase.
Having made just seven Premier League appearances for Chelsea after moving from Swiss giants Basel for €13.5m (US$14.7m), Veiga is clearly surplus to requirements with the Londoners.
Saudi Arabia sides are showing keen interest in luring him to the Saudi Pro League, with Bayern Munich and Juventus both adding Veiga to their wishlist.
The Bianconeri could only afford to sign him if outcast center-back Lloyd Kelly is sold to finance the move, so the club are expected to propose another loan.
Juve could land a bargain deal
Juventus is likely to be a back-up plan for Chelsea should they not attract a buyer for Veiga, although the club might demand a conditional obligation to buy.
Juve's backline has been boosted by the arrival of right-back Joao Mario from Sporting Lisbon and the return of veteran center-back Daniele Rugani from loan. While both Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal are still working on their rehabilitation, having suffered season-ending ACL injuries last term.
As well as trying to offload Kelly, Tudor is eager to sell center-back Tiago Djalo who failed to impress during his loan at FC Porto.
The Bianconeri are currently training in Germany, ahead of Sunday’s clash with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. Tudor has been testing out two sets of tactical approaches, his favored three at the back and the same formation as Thiago Motta used with a traditional four defenders.