As Fabio Caressa often says, “football is strange,” and finding the right word to describe the transfer market is no easy task. Is it “unpredictable”? “Crazy”? Maybe both, considering the situation surrounding Juventus’ new number 9. Let’s try to make sense of the whirlwind 20 days that led us here.
The Beginning of the Transfer Drama
It all began in early September when Juventus seemed to be focused on bringing Edin Dzeko to the club. However, the opportunity to sign Luis Suarez suddenly emerged, sparking an unexpected shift. The negotiations accelerated quickly, and Dzeko was pushed aside. But soon, the reality set in: the time required to obtain Suarez’s community status would be too long, meaning Juventus wouldn’t be able to register him before the transfer window closed. Although Suarez could still join later as a free agent, he wouldn’t be available for the UEFA list.
A Change of Plans: Dzeko Put on Hold
Faced with this dilemma, the Italian champions had to reverse their course and turn back to Dzeko. As late as Friday evening, it seemed like the Bosnian striker was bound for Turin, with Arkadiusz Milik poised to take his place at Roma. However, things quickly took a turn. Milik’s transfer from Napoli to Roma was halted due to unresolved issues with Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis. This stand-off frustrated both Roma, who didn’t want to let go of Dzeko without a replacement, and Juventus, who had already hinted, through Paratici’s words before the Sampdoria match, that the Dzeko deal was not the only option.
A New Hope: Morata Joins the Picture
Less than 24 hours later, a new twist emerged: Juventus reconnected with Atletico Madrid, which had finally agreed to loan Alvaro Morata with an option to buy. The Spanish striker, who had been mentioned at the start of September by renowned agent Giovanni Branchini on Radio Deejay, was now seen as Juventus’ new number 9. Atletico, in the process of acquiring Luis Suarez from Barcelona, was willing to release Morata. A deal was quickly agreed upon between the two clubs: Juventus would pay around €10 million for the loan, with a €45 million buyout option. Additionally, there would be an option to extend the loan for another year for an additional €10 million, with the buyout dropping to €35 million.
Morata’s Play Style: A Perfect Fit for Juventus
Morata’s profile is a stark contrast to Dzeko’s. The 27-year-old prefers to attack depth and can play across the entire front line. He’s already had the opportunity to play alongside both Ronaldo and Dybala, so compatibility shouldn’t be an issue. If Pirlo decides to field all three attackers at once, it could happen in exceptional circumstances. Pirlo likely sees Dybala and CR7 as his first-choice pairing, with Morata set to take on a luxury substitute role, especially given the tight schedule and the five-substitution rule still in place for this season.
The Medicals and Final Steps
Meanwhile, Morata arrived in Turin yesterday evening and underwent his medicals at JMedical this morning. The Spaniard, who, alongside Carlos Tevez, lit up Juventus’ 2014/2015 European nights, equaling Del Piero’s record of five consecutive Champions League goals, has returned to the club.
The End of the Transfer Saga
And so, the long transfer saga seems to be drawing to a close, at least for now. Pirlo has his new center forward, as we await any potential moves from Everton or Mino Raiola. The long-awaited conclusion to this transfer drama is finally here—Alvaro Morata is back at Juventus, and it looks like the club has found the missing piece of their attacking puzzle.