The transfer story that might have been has finally been told — and it involves one of the summer’s most admired midfielders and a Juventus approach that ultimately came to nothing on financial grounds.
Martin Reijnders, father and representative of Manchester City and Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, has spoken to Dutch outlet AD.nl to set the record straight on his son’s summer — and in doing so, has confirmed that Juventus were genuinely interested in bringing the 28-year-old to Turin before being ruled out by one specific and structural limitation.
“Juventus Were Interested — but Only on Loan. We Were Waiting for Atletico”
Martin Reijnders’s account of the negotiations is revealing in its detail. “We were waiting for Atletico Madrid, who were very interested — but in the end they stepped back for financial reasons. There were also Juventus and Galatasaray, but they were only interested in a loan. The first two times we declined Al-Qadsiah’s approach. Then they came back a third time, and we understood they want to become the biggest club in all of Asia.”
The explanation captures the summer’s transfer market reality for Juventus in a single sentence: they wanted Reijnders, but the only formula available to them — given the financial constraints of the UEFA Settlement Agreement and the squad-cost ceiling imposed by their obligations — was a temporary arrangement. Reijnders and his representatives were not interested in a loan to Turin; they wanted a permanent move that offered long-term security and a project to commit to.
Why Juventus Moved On — and Why Kessié Is the Answer
The article is explicit about the consequence of the Reijnders door closing: Carnevali and Massara redirected their midfield attention entirely towards Franck Kessié. The Ivorian’s availability as a free agent — at zero transfer fee — and the personal relationship between Massara and the player from their time together at AC Milan have made him the undisputed priority for the position. With Arthur’s contract now terminated and a squad slot formally available, the Kessié deal is described as being in its most advanced stage yet.
The sidebar on the Calciomercato page also reveals the most striking late-window complication: Roma have now entered the race for Kessié, with Gian Piero Gasperini attempting to pip Juventus to a signing that the bianconeri had considered as good as done. Whether Massara’s personal bond with the Ivorian proves stronger than Gasperini’s own appeal as a manager will determine whether the midfield signing Spalletti has been requesting all summer finally arrives before the 1 September deadline.
