Italiano could take three unwanted Juventus players with him to Besiktas | OneFootball

Vincenzo Italiano has recently been appointed as the head coach of Turkish Super Lig giants Besiktas, and reports in Italy claim that he could target the signings of three players who are currently considered surplus to requirements at Juventus.

Gazzetta: Three unwanted Juventus players could join Italiano at Besiktas

Italiano joined Besiktas on a two-year contract last weekend, which reportedly makes him the third-highest-paid Italian coach in the world with his €6m-per-season contract. Only Simone Inzaghi and Carlo Ancelotti are currently earning more than the former Bologna tactician.

Besiktas are also prepared to back Italiano on the transfer market, and reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that he has several unwanted Juventus players on his wishlist.

Among them is Arthur Melo, who, astonishingly, has not played for Juventus since the end of the 2021-22 season. The 29-year-old former Barcelona midfielder still has another year remaining on his contract with Juve, and if he were to be sold, the club would need to bring in around €6.5m to avoid making a capital loss.

Arthur still has a contract worth €5m per season in Turin, but this is not expected to be an issue for Besiktas.

Arthur Melo of Juventus looks on during his warm-up session prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 30, 2022 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Getty Images)

Arthur is a player that Italiano knows well from their time together at Fiorentina. Italiano brought the Brazilian to Tuscany on loan for the 2023-24 season, helping the midfielder to get back on his feet after a disastrous loan spell with Liverpool the year before.

From one Brazilian midfielder to another, La Gazzetta dello Sport also claims that Besiktas have expressed an interest in picking up Douglas Luiz as well.

Douglas Luiz joined Juventus in a €50m deal off the back of an impressive few years in the Premier League with Aston Villa, but he failed to make any real impact during his first season in Italy, and has since gone on two unproductive loan spells to Nottingham Forest and back to Villa during the 2025-26 season.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on February 11, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Luciano Spalletti could give Douglas Luiz another chance at Juventus during pre-season, but Besiktas have also reportedly tried to sound out information regarding his availability.

Lastly, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Besiktas could also offer a new home for goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, who is expected to be sold by Juventus if an appropriate offer were to come in.