Juventus are trying to bring back Leonardo Spinazzola ahead of schedule but Atalanta are reluctant to part with the left-back.
Having been loaned out for the best part of 5 years, Spinazzola finally found his calling at Atalanta, switching from the right side of midfield to a left wing-back/left midfield role he excelled in, providing 5 assists and earning a call up to the national team.
Juve initially loaned the 24-year-old to the Orobici for two-years, however they’re now pushing to bring him back for the new campaign as they look to add some strength to the left-flank.
Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that the Bianconeri are pressing Atalanta in the hopes that they may release the player a year ahead of schedule, going so far as to include Tomas Rincon in an effort to convince La Dea. Given Rincon and Gianpiero Gasperini worked together at Genoa, there was a suggestion that it might be enough to sway the Bergamo side to part with Spinazzola but the reports today suggest to the contrary.
Tuttosport and others report that Juve prefer to recall Spinazzola given his flexibility in being able to play on the right and left flanks, but Atalanta have given a very firm ‘no’ to the prospect of losing their man. It’s suggested Gasperini is unwilling to part with another player having lost Franck Kessie and Andrea Conti in the space of a few weeks, all the while preparing for the clubs first foray in the Europa League.
Despite offering to pay Rincon’s wages for the duration of his proposed stay in Bergamo, Atalanta are firm in declining Juve’s offer and it seems they have ‘put up a wall’ around Spinazzola, meaning Juve are unlikely to get him back this summer and will have to wait until 2018.
Granted, it would be ideal to have a young Juve recruit in the ranks for the season ahead, especially given his flexibility, but he would only ever play second fiddle to Alex Sandro. Sandro, who Juve are reportedly trying to entice with a new contract, would be the starting left-back in Europe and the league, so is there a case for young Leonardo to join Juve this summer? Personally speaking, i think he’s better off in Bergamo, playing every game possible, getting all too valuble experience in Europe while we should be focusing our attentions on perhaps signing Joao Cancelo while Mattia De Sciglio becomes the obvious deputy for either flank.
Either way you look at it, it’s a win-win situation for Juve. Spinazzola’s future is in Turin, be it this year or the next.
Sign Cancelo and a QUALITY midfielder. That is 50 mill. Then sell two of Rincon, Lemina or Sturaro. 25 mill.
It’s a slight concern, as pjaca and Costa can both play LW. It must mean asamoah or sandro are leaving. For us to be making a move now, or we have another seller for him…likely asamoah to leave. Sandro would be a huge loss.