Juventus Faces Contract Stalemate with Rising Star Yildiz

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Damien Comolli, recently appointed as the CEO of Juventus, is encountering challenges in negotiations with the representatives of young talent Yildiz regarding a new contract.

The player’s camp is advocating for a salary increase that acknowledges his expanding role within the team. However, the Serie A club is currently unwilling to meet the proposed salary demands. Yildiz is aiming for a contract that aligns him more closely with the team’s highest earners, approximately €6 million, but conflicting valuations have resulted in a complete stall following recent discussions.

Yildiz, who transitioned to Juventus from Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2022, currently earns €1.7 million—significantly less than many of his peers, despite emerging as one of the squad’s standout players this season.

Chelsea has shown particular interest in the young player, having previously submitted a €67 million (£59 million/$77.5 million) bid last July, which was rejected. The Blues are expected to make another attempt next summer. Additionally, Premier League rivals Arsenal are now in the mix, while La Liga leaders Real Madrid are closely monitoring the situation. Reports suggest that if a bidding war ensues among these clubs next summer, Yildiz’s market value could exceed €100 million (£88 million/$116 million). His contract, which runs until 2029, provides Juventus with some negotiating leverage, but the deadlock in contract talks could potentially pave the way for discussions with alternative clubs.

Last month, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso publicly praised Yildiz, describing him as one of Europe’s most promising talents. Ahead of Juventus’s Champions League match against Madrid, Alonso noted, “[Juventus] have very good players, and Yildiz is one of them. He’s had a fantastic development. I know him from his time at Bayern Munich, and seeing his progress makes me very happy.”

Agent Giovanni Branchini revealed that Alonso had even informed management that he would be willing to offload ‘anyone except Kylian Mbappe’ to facilitate the acquisition of the Turkish forward.

In light of the ongoing contract stalemate, Yildiz’s former teammate at Juventus, Nicolo Savona, now at Nottingham Forest, advised him to contemplate a move to England. Savona expressed, “I would recommend the Premier League to all kids who love football. It would be difficult to say otherwise, so also to Kenan and any of his teammates.”

Meanwhile, Juventus continues to experience difficulties this season. The club parted ways with coach Igor Tudor following an eight-game winless streak and appointed former Italy manager Luciano Spalletti as his successor. So far, Spalletti has achieved just one victory in his first three matches, leaving Juventus sixth in the Serie A standings.

Despite the team’s challenges, Yildiz has emerged as one of the few positive aspects. The Turkish international has participated in 14 matches across all competitions, contributing three goals and four assists in 1,155 minutes of play.

Spalletti acknowledged that Yildiz may be exhibiting signs of fatigue following a goalless draw against Torino but confirmed he has no intentions of resting the player. “It could be a fair impression, playing while tired… but I’ll make him play again and keep him there. He can relax.”

Juventus is set to face Fiorentina at the Stadio Franchi after the international break, hoping to stabilize their season.