Manuel Locatelli only wanted to join Juventus in the summer transfer window and turned down an approach from Premier League giants Arsenal, Sassuolo director Giovanni Carnevali has said in quotes reported by Football Italia.
Three months into the new season and Arsenal are doing better than Juventus right now – and you’d have got long odds on that happening when the Gunners were bottom of the Premier League table without a point or goal at the end of August.
An eight-game unbeaten run means Arsenal are up to fifth – the promised land of the top four within sniffing distance.
Juventus appear to face a Champions League battle of their own, with any hopes of reclaiming the Serie A title going up in smoke during an underwhelming start to Max Allegri’s second spell in Turin.
Juve are eighth – a staggering 14 points behind table-topping Napoli.
Allegri’s use of Locatelli, the club’s £30 million marquee signing, has raised eyebrows too.
The Italy international has struggled in something akin to the ‘Andrea Pirlo role’ in front of the defence, having shone as a box-to-box dynamo at his previous employers.
Locatelli finds life tough at Juventus after rejecting Arsenal
“Locatelli deserved this move to Juve and had helped us out over the last few years,” said Carnevali, confirming the one-time AC Milan youngster wanted to join one club and one club only in summer 2021.
“(Locatelli) only wanted to go to Juventus. We received offers from Arsenal and other clubs, but there was nothing we could do. He was determined.”
According to Calciomercato, Arsenal were willing to pay more than £30 million for Locatelli while offering him £90,000 a week at the Emirates.
Italy’s midfield metronome had his heart firmly fixed on Juventus, however, so much so he told his representatives not to even open talks regarding a switch to Arsenal.
If Arsenal are a Champions League team again next season – while Juventus are boarding a Thursday flight to Slovakia, Norway or Croatia – perhaps Locatelli will feel less sure he made the right choice.
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