It’s no secret that Juventus are in a vulnerable situation this summer financially. As much as they want to upgrade the squad following their sixth-place finish this past season, they won’t be able to do so without Champions League football and the financial benefits that come with it. That means selling names to try and offset some of those losses, with what seems like pretty much everybody outside of a couple of names off limits.
The one who’s off limits — even for Premier League money in return?
The young No. 10.
We know this because The Athletic reported on Tuesday that newly-crowned English champions Arsenal recently made an inquiry for Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz in hopes of adding him to their roster this summer. Juventus, despite the Europa League-related financial restrictions, pretty much told Arsenal to kick rocks, with The Athletic saying “They were informed in no uncertain terms that Yildiz was not for sale, and are consequently pursuing other options.” In short, Juventus told Arsenal that Yildiz is untouchable and ain’t leaving Turin this summer even though the Bianconeri aren’t in the Champions League next season.
We all pretty much knew that Yildiz was going to attract interest from the richest clubs in the world — namely the biggest ones who play in the Premier League and have access to all the riches their super league provide — even with his new contract coming into effect in February. We also knew this would happen this summer considering it’s no secret that Juventus need money — and Yildiz would be the one to provide the club the biggest single influx of cash if he were to leave.
But he isn’t leaving — and this rebuff of the new Premier League champions and a Champions League finalist is proof of just that.
That is something you hope continues as time goes on, and that Juventus are able to provide Yildiz a platform in the future that involves something more than just trying to scratch and claw into qualifying for the Champions League. There’s only one way to find that first part out — and that’s keeping Yildiz in Turin.
