With Argentina World Cup winner Gonzalez joining Atletico Madrid from Juventus on a season-loan loan during today’s transfer deadline day, Juve were swift to sign Edon Zhegrova.
Igor Tudor had claimed, during his pre-match press conference against Genoa, that he was happy to have Gonzalez at the club.
Yet that now appears to have been masking the truth about the 27-year-old’s transfer to the La Liga giants.
Gonzalez arrived at Juventus last summer from Fiorentina, highly regarded by the then Juve head coach Thiago Motta, to link up with his former team-mate Dusan Vlahovic in Turin.
It cost the club a staggering €8 million (US$9.4m) loan fee, before signing a permanent deal for €28.1m (US$32.8m) on 1 July. Yet the Turin titans were soon open to offers, as he was not part of Tudor’s plans to tackle Serie A and the Champions League.
Gonzalez gone after turning down approaches
Gonzalez rejected offers from the Saudi Pro League and Turkish Super Lig, as he preferred Europe in a bid to try and seal a place in the Argentina squad ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup finals.
Atletico have landed Gonzalez initially on the cheap with a bargain €1 million (US$1.2m) loan fee, and the option to make his move permanent for an additional fee of €32m (US$37.5m).
Juventus had been waiting to offload the expert dribbler before they could replace him, with Zhegrova their top target from LOSC Lille.
Juve had to beat off Serie A rivals AC Milan, AS Roma and Napoli to land the 26-year-old left-footed whizzy winger.
Kosovan Lionel Messi signs for Juve
Zhegrova, who turned down a move to Arsenal to join Ligue 1 outfit Lille, has frequently been referred to as the Kosovan Lionel Messi because of his formidable dribbling skills.
Juventus have paid €14.3m (US$16.7m) to the Ligue 1 team, which will be paid over four instalments.
Zhegrova is the second player who turned out for Lille last season to join Juventus this summer, following in the footsteps of hot-shot striker Jonathan David who signed in early July as a free agent. They were a prolific pair for the French side, who finished fifth in Ligue 1.
Zhegrova explains his Juventus goals
Zhegrova revealed to the official Juventus website: “My preferred position is right winger. My style of play is dribbling, scoring goals, giving assists, helping my team with my quality.
“It is like a dream for me, an amazing moment. I feel honoured to wear this shirt, and I am going to give my best to this team. We can win titles with the quality that we have.”
Zhegrova could make his Juventus debut for the Derby d’Italia, when Inter Milan visit the Allianz Stadium in Turin on 13 September.