The game of patience continues. Barring an improbable change of heart from Aston Villa, Juventus will have no choice but to wait until the World Cup concludes before the Dibu Martínez pursuit can truly heat up — because the deal’s only viable mechanism is the player himself. The Argentine goalkeeper is the sole battering ram capable of breaking down the English club’s rigid financial demands, and it is precisely for this reason that Carnevali and Massara held Wednesday’s summit with Vlado Lemic, Martínez’s intermediary, despite having long since agreed personal terms: three years at €5 million net per season. The purpose of that meeting was singular and explicit: “Help us in the negotiation. Make use of the promise the club made to the goalkeeper a year ago to convince them to lower their price.”
A Small but Meaningful Movement from Aston Villa
It is too soon to speak of tangible results — but in the hours since that meeting, a small step forward has been registered. Officially, Aston Villa continue to hold at €10 million for the goalkeeper’s transfer fee. In reality, however, sources close to the situation suggest that immovability is tactical rather than genuine — a refusal to publicly legitimise Juventus reopening negotiations at an even lower figure. The real floor, as things stand, is understood to be between €6 and €7 million — the actual book value of Martínez on Villa’s balance sheet. That is the number beyond which they cannot realistically go, and the number below which Juventus cannot realistically offer. If Martínez plays his cards well once the World Cup is over and engages directly with Aston Villa, those are the figures on which this deal will ultimately be concluded. Time must be given its due — but not indefinitely.
The Vicario Firebreak Plan
For precisely that reason, Juventus have already prepared what Tuttosport describes as an “anti-incendio” — a firebreak plan designed to ensure the club does not begin next season with the same goalkeeping options that underwhelmed throughout the last one. That firebreak is Guglielmo Vicario. It remains the simplest and most immediately accessible option on the market: Tottenham are desperate to move him on following the arrival of their designated new first-choice goalkeeper, Martin Dubravka, and have thrown open the door entirely to a loan with a right to buy at between €15 and €20 million.
The moment talks with Villa reach a definitive stalemate, Juventus will pivot to Vicario without hesitation — even if Spalletti’s reservations about the Italian international’s technical standing remain on the record. The manager’s concerns are real, but they are not insurmountable — and the financial logic of a loan structure, within the constraints of the UEFA Settlement Agreement, makes Vicario a clean and practicable solution. For now, the fire has not started. The plan is simply ready, should it ever be needed.
