The revolution must be made, in the name of money but also of results. Juventus is trying to shed the last of the dead weight of the previous management, not so much that of Allegri, but that of Agnelli. Everyone – even the employees who had been at Juventus for years – have been removed from their positions and replaced, perhaps to make it clear that something has really changed. If not everything. As far as players are concerned, Next Gen is, in fact, Juve’s ATM. Or rather, the way to get the money to finance the transfer campaign. Barrenechea and Iling Jr are two practically total capital gains, even if included in an exchange. Moise Kean is not, 13 million plus 5 in bonuses, because in 2021 a redemption obligation of 28 million plus 7 for the two-year loan was included. In short, there was a (mini) capital gain of around 3 million compared to the 10 in the balance sheet as of June 30, 2024.
Then there are Soulé and Huijsen. Valued, considered as predestined, sold. 26 million plus 4 in bonuses the first, 18 all included the second. A nice capital gain to try to assault Koopmeiners – the real objective, to be understood if there will be the extremes to convince Atalanta, now climbed on the Aventine not to sell him if not for a pharaonic offer – the key man who would turn around the midfield and attack with Thiago Motta. But it is also a way to have everything immediately, while the purchases must be spread out over the years. Weah, Vlahovic, Bremer will remain as amortizations also this season. Then there would be the intention to sell all the others.
Why is a chicken today better than an egg tomorrow? Because the mechanism of capital gains in a football club is brainless. The players are the main asset and if they are sold they must be included immediately in the current balance sheet. Those who are bought are divided into a certain number of years, that is, those of the contract. You have the money immediately but you buy in installments, that’s clear. The revolution must be made but with an eye on the money, at least for now, then we’ll see. Because winning helps the balance sheet and is a driving force, the Club World Cup will further help next season, net of the protests of athletes and European federations.
The reality is that Juventus is thinking more about the now than the later. They will try to make a competitive team to win the Scudetto right away, since the brood of the next capital gains is at home. Adzic is one. Barido is another. Della Rovere and Toni Fernandez were supposed to be there too, but they chose differently because they were not convinced by the project (that is, probably to end up in the B team and then be sold if needed). In the end, only Yildiz resists stoically and strenuously. Let’s say he has an extraordinary season, as a starter, at twenty years old: won’t City, United, Real Madrid, PSG line up to try to buy him for 70-80 million? Of course they will. Will Juventus have the strength to say no? It remains to be seen, because in any case there will be the amortization of today’s revolution.
Then there are the redundancies. Szczesny, De Sciglio, Hysaj, Rugani – who renewed his contract until May 24th, it remains to be seen why – Chiesa who does not renew. Then there are those who could leave, with great happiness for those in charge, like Milik and Kostic, who have a bit of market and a significant salary. McKennie refused the transfer because he asked for severance pay and was not satisfied. Nextgen this season has brought in around 85 million euros for five players: de Winter, Barrenechea, Iling Jr, Soulé and Huijsen. Why have the egg tomorrow?