Barcelona outcast Miralem Pjanic could return to Serie A this summer but not to team up with Juventus. According to La Reppublica (via SempreInter), the Bosnian midfielder could make a shocking switch to Juve’s arch-rivals Inter as the Catalan outfit look to sever ties with their misfit.
Pjanic left Turin for Catalonia last summer, carrying a reputation as one of the finest playmakers in Europe’s top-five divisions. However, he has turned out to be one of Barcelona’s biggest flops in recent history, barely featuring for Ronald Koeman’s side in 2020-21.
The Spanish juggernauts have to reduce the wage bill this summer and raise funds for re-signing Lionel Messi, whose contract expired earlier in July. Indeed, Barcelona are facing a financial collapse and must offload deadwood to avoid further damage.
Numerous players are expected to exit Camp Nou by the end of the summer, with Pjanic among the likeliest candidates to leave the club. In fact, the Catalans are so desperate to cut ties with the 31-year-old that they are ready to let him go on a free transfer just to get rid of his wages.
Although Juventus immediately emerged as the favorites to offer Pjanic an escape route from La Liga, the midfielder could end up joining Bianconeri‘s fierce rivals. Inter are reportedly aiming to bring the Bosnia & Herzegovina international back to Serie A but only under certain conditions.
The Nerazzurri would sign Pjanic only if he accepts to take a pay cut. He currently earns around €6.5 million a year at Barcelona, but Inter want to lower his salary to €5.5 million.
If the deal goes through, Pjanic would replace Arturo Vidal, who is seemingly heading towards the Giuseppe Meazza exit.