Juventus have reportedly made a successful last-ditch attempt to hijack Inter’s pursuit of highly-rated Hellas Verona defender Juan Cabal. According to Alfredo Pedulla, the record-time Italian champions have struck a lightning-fast agreement with the Gialloblu to pip the reigning Scudetto holders to the Colombian’s signature.
Verona and Juventus have agreed on a €12 million deal, including add-ons, with the medicals already scheduled for this week. Cabal could arrive in Turin in the next 24-48 hours to undergo medical checks before penning a lengthy five-year contract at the Allianz Stadium.
Per multiple reports, it’s a done deal. Juventus will pay Verona €10m upfront plus an additional €2m. Cabal’s long-term contract is reportedly worth €1.2m per season. The 23-year-old arrives in the wake of Bianconeri’s busted quest to sign Riccardo Calafiori.
He’s a fallback option for Bologna’s rising star. New Juventus boss Thiago Motta was desperate to reunite with the versatile Italian defender after taking charge of the Turin heavyweights earlier in the summer. However, his former employers prefer to sell their most prized asset abroad.
Juventus are no longer in the race for Calafiori. He’s more likely to join Arsenal in the coming weeks, with Bologna expecting to earn around €50m from his sale. Though there’s still some difference between the Gunners’ offer and Bologna’s demands, the deal could come through soon.
Calafiori is eager to join Mikel Arteta’s team. Meanwhile, Juventus have addressed another shortcoming with Cabal’s impending arrival. The ex-Atletico Nacional defender will provide depth on the left-hand side, while he can also operate as a center-back.
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