Mateo Retegui has set his sights firmly on a return to Serie A and has now opened a channel not only with Milan but also with Juventus, as he looks for a way out of Saudi Arabia and a move back to Italian football. The Italy international striker, currently at Al-Qadisiya on a huge contract, has made it clear that his priority is to come back to Serie A, regardless of whether the destination is in red and black or black and white.
Tuttosport report that the first steps have already been taken. After talks with Milan, Retegui’s father has also made direct contact with Juventus sporting director Marco Ottolini, with whom he shares a strong professional bond dating back to their time together at Genoa. It was an exploratory conversation, but also a way of keeping a mutual opportunity alive: for Retegui, the chance to return to a league where he has already proved himself as a prolific goalscorer; for Juventus, a potential shortcut in their ongoing search for a centre-forward, a search that continues despite progress on Dusan Vlahovic’s renewal and the obligatory buy option attached to Loïs Openda.
Openda, David and the Kolo Muani Plan
Openda, like Jonathan David, appears destined to move on in the summer, even if a permanent transfer looks difficult without a major bid from abroad at a very high price. A loan solution, however, is a concrete option, with the first call coming from Fenerbahce, where his former mentor Domenico Tedesco is on the bench. Much, though, remains fluid, with market scenarios still likely to shift several times before the summer truly begins.
David, heavily in demand in Ligue 1 and with possible opportunities in the Premier League, is another striker yet to find a definitive destination or a clear price point. In any case, Retegui is far from the only option on the list on Comolli and Ottolini’s desk. The top target remains Randal Kolo Muani, favoured by Luciano Spalletti and one of the few profiles on which all branches of the Juventus hierarchy agreed during an ambitious January window that ultimately ended without the “game-changing” number nine they were chasing for their head coach.
Spalletti must now focus on the pitch: Sassuolo next, then Genoa, followed by the direct clashes that will shape the run-in. What happens in those games will be crucial in determining the club’s room for manoeuvre this summer.
Champions League Key to the Attack Rebuild
A significant slice of Juventus’ future planning will depend on qualification for the next Champions League. The budget attached to Europe’s top competition will influence every major decision in attack, Retegui included. The main obstacle to signing the Italy forward is Al-Qadisiya. Regardless of the player’s will, the Saudi club have no intention of letting him leave for free or even on loan.
On top of that, his salary is a major issue. Retegui currently earns around 20 million euros per season, a figure far beyond the usual parameters of even a top Serie A club. Any move back to Italy would require a drastic, almost emergency-style decision on his part, potentially shaped by the climate created by the ongoing conflict involving Arab countries, which is one of the factors pushing him to leave Saudi Arabia. For now, though, his openness to a return to Serie A – whether to Juventus or Milan – appears total.
Zirkzee, Jackson and Other Opportunities
Behind Kolo Muani, other options remain firmly on the radar. Joshua Zirkzee continues to attract interest and, compared with some of the bigger names, comes with a more accessible fee of around 25 million euros. He offers different characteristics but shares the same desire to relaunch his career in Italy, making him an intriguing opportunity.
Another potential chance could be Nicolas Jackson, who is likely to return to Chelsea after a season on loan at Bayern Munich. He was a major target for Juventus last summer before the club decided to move decisively for Openda, a choice that, with hindsight, may feel like a missed train. Yet in football, some trains return to the station: what matters is staying there, ready, waiting and searching.
What seems certain is that Juventus’ attacking department is headed for another summer of upheaval. One year on from the much-heralded revolution that never truly materialised, the Bianconeri appear set for a new round of big decisions, big names and, perhaps, that elusive signing capable of transforming their frontline.
