A surprise report from Italian outlet Tuttosport this afternoon has named Barcelona as a contender in the race for Juventus defender Daniele Rugani.
Juve struggles
25-year-old centre-half Rugani came up through the youth ranks of Juve, before an impressive loan spell with Empoli from 2013 to 2015 eventually saw the Italian handed the chance to impress as part of the Bianconeri’s first-team setup.
After playing a bit-part role over the seasons that followed, Rugani went on to rack up 22 Serie A starts during the 2017/18 season, finally beginning to suggest that he may go on to fulfill his undoubted potential.
As such, the Juventus hierarchy evidently felt as though the 7-time capped international would eventually develop into a home-grown long-term successor to the famed trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Last season, however, saw Rugani, in the eyes of many, regress.
The stopper often looked overly timid at the heart of Max Allegri’s back-4, with Bonucci’s return from AC Milan having resulted in Rugani notching just 15 league appearances.
EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 27: Antonino La Gumina of Empoli FC in action against Daniele Rugani of Juventus during the Serie A match between Empoli and Juventus at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 27, 2018 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
The Old Lady’s business on the transfer market this summer, meanwhile, will have done little in terms of reassuring the stopper.
Juve have brought in a trio of up and coming central-defenders over the last couple of months, in the form of Matthijs de Ligt, Merih Demiral and Cristian Romero (returned to Genoa on loan).
Barca switch?
As such, as things stand, it appears highly-unlikely that Rugani will be plying his trade in Turin this coming season.
And, as per the aforementioned report from Tuttosport, there are currently a trio of clubs in the running for the Italian’s signature.
The outfits in question, meanwhile, are named as AS Roma, Monaco and Barcelona.
Roma are thought to be leading the race at present, with the Blaugrana ‘just an idea’.
A potential move to the Camp Nou could be linked to rumoured negotiations between Juventus and Barca over young defender Juan Miranda, though.
Bianconeri director Fabio Paratici is said to have opened talks with the Spanish champions’ board over the possibility of left-back Miranda making the move to the Allianz Arena earlier today:
#Juventus: blitz di Fabio Paratici a #Barcellona per parlare di Juan #Miranda. Per il momento, però, resta in vantaggio l’OM che lo vorrebbe prendere in prestito. Tutti i dettagli su @GoalItalia
— Romeo Agresti (@romeoagresti) August 19, 2019
As such, with Junior Firpo’s arrival in Catalunya having seemingly resulted in Miranda being deemed surplus to requirements, and Barca short on options at centre-half, a potential cash-plus-Miranda swap deal with Juventus involving Rugani could well be a possibility.
Barcelona boost? PSG open to Neymar loan – Goal
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