🧨 Vlahovic-Juve tension: David on hold, out like Chiesa? 💥 | OneFootball

Juventus dreams of a new beginning, but the past does not want to step aside. Dusan Vlahovic, a Serbian striker who arrived in Turin in 2022 for a total of 85 million euros, has decided not to renew his contract, which expires in 2026, and refuses any destination.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the bianconero number 9 said no to Fenerbahçe, despite the strong interest of José Mourinho, and does not intend to lower his annual salary of 12 million euros.

This stance complicates the plans of the management, which is already ready to welcome Jonathan David on a free transfer. But the arrival of the Canadian is tied to the fate of the Serbian, who now seriously risks being left out of the squad. How? With the "Chiesa method".

🧊 Vlahovic freezes everyone

Those who know him describe him as nervous, touchy, but determined. Vlahovic's strategy is clear: to stay until 2026 to become a free agent, with the hope of securing a maxi contract as a free agent, just like David wants to do now. The no to the proposed renewal – 7-8 million euros until 2028 – was the first signal.

The player feels used, exploited in the first part of the season when he played while gritting his teeth, and then put aside with the arrival of Kolo Muani. Now, after months of bench and gossip, he has broken the silence with just one word on Instagram: "nueve". A message? Perhaps a warning: the number 9 is still his.

💰 A financial burden: how much Vlahovic really costs

In the 2024-25 season alone, between salary and amortization, Vlahovic will weigh around 40 million euros, as reported by Il Corriere dello Sport. Each of his goals has cost around 2.3 million euros. If he were to leave now, Juventus could still make a small profit – around 19.5 million euros is the residual value in the budget – but without any offers on the table, it remains a remote hypothesis.

Real offers? None. There has been talk of Galatasaray, Arabia, and some inquiries from the Premier League, but nothing concrete. Milan? Just bar talk.

🔁 David waits, Juventus is blocked

Jonathan David has said yes to the Juventus project, but the arrival of the Canadian – 25 goals in the season with Lille – is linked to Vlahovic's departure. The bianconero club cannot afford to have three top salaries in attack: Kolo Muani (who wants to be retained on loan with an option to buy in 2026), David, and Dusan. It would be unsustainable, especially in a year when the priority is to reduce costs.

Comolli has been negotiating for weeks, but the knot is always the same: as long as Vlahovic stays, David can only wait outside the door.

🔚 Out of the project?

Thiago Motta immediately questioned him, Tudor tried him and then put him back on the bench. The numbers do not lie: 58 goals in 145 appearances with Juventus are not enough to justify the investment and salary.

Today, Dusan is no longer at the center of the technical project. And yet he does not give in. Juventus is ready for a showdown, even at the cost of leaving him out of the squad. But who really benefits from a two-year war of nerves?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

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