Juventus have reportedly clinched their first signing of the January transfer window, successfully snatching Lille defender Tiago Djalo from the grasp of rivals Inter. The development signals a victory for Juventus’ sporting chief Cristiano Giuntoli over Inter’s Beppe Marotta.
The deal, as reported on Tuesday by sources in Italy, sees Juventus paying an initial fee of €3.5 million along with €3.5 million in potential bonuses for the 23-year-old Portuguese centre back.
Tiago Djalo to Juventus – “Here We Go” coming soon
Djalo, who suffered a significant knee injury in March last year and is yet to make his official comeback, is set to sign a 4 1⁄2-year contract with the Turin giants. Additionally, Lille will receive 10% of any future sale involving Djalo.
Given Juventus’ current financial standing, the move to invest in a defender might come as a surprise. However, Giuntoli seems to have identified an opportune moment to secure a promising player and prevent losing him to their fierce rivals.
Djalo, who is expected to undergo medical exams in Turin next week, presents an intriguing prospect for Juventus and manager Max Allegri. With the defender still recovering from a lengthy injury, his integration into the squad and potential impact on the team’s defensive lineup will be closely watched.
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The move also adds valuable depth to Juventus’ squad, especially with Dean Huijsen currently on loan at Roma for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
As Djalo inches closer to becoming a Juventus player, anticipation grows regarding his role in Allegri’s plans for the latter half of the season. Whether he will serve as a backup during his recovery or contend for a starting position remains to be seen, creating an intriguing subplot for Juventus fans.