The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain this evening carries an unusual subplot for Juventus supporters: Diego Simeone will be watching Nico González with the eyes of a manager determined to reunite with the Argentine winger at Atletico Madrid as soon as the tournament concludes. Simeone has been following González throughout the World Cup and has been applying consistent internal pressure on the Atletico hierarchy to prioritise a permanent deal. The two share a special professional bond, and the Cholo wants him back in Madrid after Ferragosto.
Juventus Hold Firm — and González Is Actually an Asset Worth Keeping
Juventus’s position is unambiguous. González will not be sold for less than €30 million — no exceptions, no negotiated discounts — despite the Argentine’s own desire to work under Simeone again. If Atletico approach the threshold implied by the onerous loan clause inserted into the original agreement almost a year ago, Carnevali and Massara will return to the negotiating table. If not, González comes back to Spalletti — and the manager would be genuinely happy to incorporate him into his attacking plans. The World Cup has enhanced rather than diminished his market value, and Juventus are in no mood to be rushed.
Cabal: Besiktas Ring the Bell
On the outgoing front, attention is turning to Juan Cabal. The Colombian left-back — who featured in the second half against Basilea in the pre-season friendly on Friday — is attracting the interest of Besiktas, where manager Vincenzo Italiano holds him in high regard. That personal connection could prove decisive: Italiano’s ability to build a professional relationship with players has been a hallmark of his managerial career, and Cabal is understood to view the prospect of working under him positively. Juventus are valuing the Colombian at €10 million — a figure designed to avoid any risk of registering a loss on a player they signed with genuine optimism.
Gatti: Napoli’s Buongiorno Injury Creates an Unlikely Opening
Federico Gatti’s situation has been given an unexpected jolt by events at Napoli. The serious knee injury suffered by Alessandro Buongiorno — who will miss the entirety of Napoli’s pre-season preparation — has created an emergency in Massimiliano Allegri’s defensive options that makes a move for Gatti considerably more timely than it appeared just a week ago. Allegri is known to rate the Juventus centre-back highly — he would have taken him to Milan last season if circumstances had allowed — and the Napoli connection now feels more concrete than at any previous point this summer. Everton and Sunderland from the Premier League have also made enquiries, adding external pressure to what was already a live situation.
Arthur and Milik: The Two Unresolved Puzzles
The two most stubborn files on Carnevali’s desk remain Arthur and Arkadiusz Milik. Both players are refusing to consider a consensual contract termination, meaning any exit must come through a sale or a loan — neither of which has yet materialised in a form satisfactory to all parties. For Spalletti, whose squad already contains too many peripheral figures consuming wages and training ground space, the urgency of resolving both situations is growing by the day. The week ahead, as Tuttosport makes clear, is the one in which the outgoing business must finally begin to move.
