Juventus transfer news: Why veteran defender chose a loan move to Ajax

On Wednesday, Juventus announced that defender Daniele Rugani would be loaned to Ajax for the 2024-25 season. The 30-year-old's agent recently spoke about how the negotiations began and why the player chose to go out on loan and play for the Dutch giants.

Juventus are entering a new era with the appointment of manager Thiago Motta. Naturally, not every player currently under contract will fit into the squad Motta envisions, and Rugani is one of those who moved on.

This isn't the first time the veteran defender has gone out on loan while under contract with Juventus. Rugani went on loan from 2013 to 2015 with Empoli. Then, in 2020, he had a brief loan stint with Stade Rennais and, afterward, a short tenure on loan with Cagliari in 2021.

Rugani's agent: Juventus defender clicked with Ajax

Rugani's agent, Davide Torchia, spoke with TuttoJuve and explained how negotiations started and unfolded with Ajax as his client eventually joined the Amsterdam side.

"The negotiation started between late June and early July," Torchia told the Italian media outlet. "Ajax needed to trim their squad and make room to bring in Daniele. As a club with a large roster, they’re careful with finances and usually wait for some players to leave before finalizing a signing.

"From the start, CEO [Alex] Kroes and the new coach [Francesco] Farioli were entirely on board. Daniele had discussions with Farioli, and they clicked in terms of ideas. The process took a bit longer because of these factors, not due to any hesitation on either side."

Rugani will play for the first time in the Netherlands, but under an Italian manager, so there won't be too many cultural and language differences while in the facilities and out on the pitch. Moreover, Torchia explained what the goals are for the defender on this loan stint with Ajax.

"The goal is to settle into a new country," Torchia added. "Daniele was very eager to join Ajax, one of the top five clubs in the world with such a rich history. It’s a fantastic opportunity for him to play for a team with so much prestige and tradition. I believe he's still young and has a lot to offer Ajax. I'm confident that his talents will truly come through."