The €28 million release clause that was supposed to define any conversation about Jhon Lucumí has, somewhat paradoxically, become the very thing accelerating his move to Juventus. Tuttosport report how the reason lies in the calendar: the Colombian centre-back’s contract at Bologna expires in June 2027 — effectively “tomorrow” in transfer-market terms — leaving the Emilian club facing the very real prospect of losing him for nothing in just twelve months unless they cash in now.
A Clause in Name Only
Officially, Bologna’s hierarchy continue to point to the €28 million figure as their line in the sand. In practice, it has become a formality rather than a fixed position. The club are listening to offers and weighing up requests, fully aware that holding firm on the clause risks losing significant value entirely should the player run down his contract. Beşiktaş, managed by Lucumí’s former coach Vincenzo Italiano, have made the most recent approach — but it is Juventus who are pushing hardest and with the greatest conviction.
Why Spalletti Wants Him So Badly
Spalletti has identified Lucumí as the ideal profile to shore up the left side of his defence. The qualities that appeal go well beyond the obvious: his physicality and pace, his tactical versatility, and the precision with which he uses his left foot to drive play forward through the vertical channels — a trait so pronounced that Italiano has previously deployed him in midfield. Just as significant, in Spalletti’s eyes, is his character. Lucumí’s combative streak occasionally tips into over-zealousness on the pitch, but the Juventus manager sees that as a risk well worth taking if it raises the personality and bite of his dressing room. Yes, he is prone to the occasional defensive lapse — but in the modern game, finding a centre-back entirely free of such moments is virtually impossible.
For Giovanni Carnevali, delivering Lucumí is also about something more symbolic: starting his working relationship with Spalletti on the right foot, with no repeat of the pattern that defined recent windows — deals presented as done and then collapsing at the final hurdle.
The Numbers — and Miretti’s Role in Closing the Gap
Juventus are working from a starting point of around €18 million — some €10 million below the release clause, justified by the leverage created by Lucumí’s looming free-agency situation and the genuine possibility he could sign a pre-contract with a new club as early as January.
To bridge that gap without straining their excellent relationship with Bologna, Juventus have introduced a creative second element into the negotiation: the inclusion of Fabio Miretti, whom the bianconeri value at around €12 million. With Miretti’s transfer fee — and a player who is, notably, in significant demand across Serie A — added to the cash offer, the deal could genuinely come together, rendering the original release clause largely academic.
Juventus’s urgency stems from two factors: a desire to keep Spalletti settled and confident in the squad being built around him, and the World Cup variable. Lucumí has already made a strong start with Colombia, and a further impressive showing on the tournament’s biggest stage could tempt wealthier, more aggressive suitors into the race. Encouragingly, Bologna remain well disposed towards Juventus, and there is even talk of reviving the loan exchange involving Holm and João Mário — a gesture of good neighbourly relations that could pave the way for the more substantial deal to follow.
