Juventus looking to complete the signing of Barcelona target – report

After all the hustle Juventus went through regarding on-loan forward Alvaro Morata, the Turin-based team now seem to have changed their mind as a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport says they are currently negotiating a permanent acquisition of the Spain striker.

Morata, 29, was on the brink of exit in January when Barcelona were extensively searching for a forward. However, with Massimiliano Allegri playing hardball, the Catalan management was forced to look elsewhere and thus came Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The decisions have worked well for all parties involved, to say the very least, as Juventus are happy with Morata’s return while Barcelona have been highly vicious in front of goal since Aubameyang’s arrival. And so, the plans have changed.

Barcelona, who were extensively pursuing Morata in January, no longer need his service. On the other hand, Juventus, who were certain to offload him in the recent window, are now looking for a permanent deal.

The amusing turn of events, however, may find Morata’s parent club, Atletico Madrid, settling on a lower price than the one that was settled.

As quoted by the aforementioned source, Juventus are not willing to pay the set amount of €35 million that was agreed upon when he signed for the team in 2020.

Rather, they are only willing to negotiate if Atletico lower their demand. The deal is pretty much that straightforward.

If not, Juventus will have no problem in sending the striker back to Madrid, where he has no place to be in Diego Simone’s blueprint. As for the Colchoneros, the deal might as well help them in raising funds for Antoine Griezmann’s permanent move in the summer.

The Frenchman, who rejoined Atletico in 2021 on a season-long loan, has an obligatory permanent transfer clause worth €40 million which will be activated in the summer of 2022.

It’s important to note that Barcelona received €10 million in 2021 upon the completion of the move, meaning that the total fee of the transfer would, in fact, move to €50 million.

As far as Morata is concerned, Xavi’s demand might not have come true, but the 42-year-old has got a man who is scoring goals in almost every match he has appeared.