Nearly sixteen years after Juventus first set their sights on Leon Goretzka, the German midfielder—now nearing the end of his contract with Bayern Munich—has once again appeared on the Bianconeri’s radar. With Luciano Spalletti prioritising experience and quality to balance his youthful midfield, Goretzka is now right at the top of Juve’s summer wishlist.
Back then, Goretzka was a 15-year-old wonderkid at Bochum, one of the brightest prospects in German football. Today, he’s a 31-year-old seasoned international earning close to €7 million a year, part of the elite free-agent pool set to shape the next transfer window. This time, though, the stars might just align differently.
The First Encounter: A Missed Opportunity at Fifteen
The story starts in October 2010, when Giovanni Rossi, then head of Juventus’ youth scouting, spotted a young Goretzka playing for Germany’s under-16 national team against Northern Ireland—a match in which the teenager also found the net. Rossi immediately flagged the youngster to Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici, prompting the club to begin tracking his development at Bochum.
As reports of his progress impressed everyone in Turin, Juventus made their move. Gianluca Pessotto, head of the youth sector, even travelled to the Goretzka family home in Bochum to present the club’s long-term project to Leon’s father, Konrad. The family, however, stood firm: Goretzka was to finish his education in his hometown before considering any move abroad. Even an approach involving Mino Raiola couldn’t change their minds.
By the time he graduated, Goretzka had already broken into Bochum’s first team. Europe’s biggest clubs were circling—Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich among them. In 2013, at just 18, he made the short move to Schalke 04, remaining close to home but stepping up in level. The diploma, at least, was safe.
Second Time Unlucky: Bayern Win the Race in 2018
Fast forward to late 2017, and Juventus found themselves once again eyeing Goretzka—this time with a potential free transfer on the horizon as his Schalke contract ran down. Then-CEO Giuseppe Marotta admitted: “Goretzka and Emre Can are two high-level free agents. We’re observing the situation, but it depends on the players’ choices.”
Paratici, still an admirer, saw a golden opportunity to secure a midfield upgrade at no cost. Yet, once again, fate intervened. Goretzka chose to stay in Germany, joining Bayern Munich, while Juventus settled for Emre Can.
The Third Attempt: Spalletti’s Priority Target
Now, eight years later, the possibility of a long-awaited union between Goretzka and Juventus is back on the table. With his Bayern contract expiring, the midfielder finds himself weighing options across Europe. Juventus—under Spalletti’s guidance—are pushing hard to beat stiff competition, particularly from Arsenal, and to persuade Goretzka that his next chapter should be written in Turin.
