Football Italia

Juventus have added Richarlison to their list of potential attacking reinforcements, with the Brazilian’s contract situation at Tottenham making him an appealing option this summer.

Luciano Spalletti has been unambiguous about the task ahead: “Our squad needs to be strengthened or improved, and in some areas even completed. We have to do important work, and it will be done,” the coach said.

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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, via CalcioMercato, that work could extend to Richarlison, whose Spurs deal expires in 2027 and who is understood to be seeking a fresh start after a difficult period in London.

De Zerbi factor could aid Juventus in Richarlison pursuit

The appeal is as much financial as sporting.

Signed by Tottenham for €70 million including bonuses in 2022, Richarlison now carries a valuation of around €25 million with a year left on his contract, and his salary, a little over €3 million net, sits comfortably within Juventus’ means.

Crucially, Roberto De Zerbi does not consider the forward central to his plans and regards him as saleable, and the coach’s relationship with Juventus chief executive Giovanni Carnevali, who worked with De Zerbi at Sassuolo, could serve as a useful bridge in any negotiation.

Richarlison is not short of suitors, with lucrative interest arriving from Turkey and Fenerbahce in particular. But the striker is said to hold fond associations with the Bianconeri, having trained at the Continassa in 2022 when Brazil based their World Cup preparations there.

Four years on, Juventus will hope those memories, allied to Spalletti’s endorsement and the De Zerbi connection, can help turn a passing opportunity into a genuine coup, even as Kolo Muani and Mateo Pellegrino remain their priorities up front.

Radu Dragusin has pointed to Fabio Paratici as the decisive figure behind his move to Fiorentina, revealing that the sporting director’s call set a rapid deal in motion.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Romania defender held his presentation press conference at the Viola Park a day after fellow new arrival Arthur Atta.

“I chose Fiorentina because it has a growth project,” the centre-back said.

“The negotiation started with the call from Paratici, whom I know very well. The fact that he was here had a big influence.” The pair’s history runs deep: it was Paratici who took Dragusin to Tottenham from Genoa in 2024, and their reunion needed little deliberation.

“When I received Fiorentina’s call, we didn’t think about it much, the negotiation didn’t last long.”

Dragusin on the failed Roma move and his Tottenham exit

The defender also addressed his near-move to the capital in January. “In the winter there were negotiations, but for various reasons I didn’t go anywhere,” he said.

His final season in London was wrecked by injury, but Dragusin insists that chapter has closed. “I’m 100% recovered; I feel able to give a lot. I had a horrible year that helped me grow in other ways,” he explained. “I want to thank Tottenham; I saw a different world and it gave me a Europa League win.”

Signed on loan with an option that becomes an obligation under certain conditions, Dragusin was unambiguous about where he sees his future.

“The fact that I’m here means only Fiorentina matters. I want to stay here to do great things and repay the club’s faith.” He had warm words, too, for his reunion with Fabio Grosso, whom he faced when the coach was at Frosinone, and for his new teammates: “I found a group with a lot of hunger.”

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus director Giovanni Carnevali has hold direct talks with Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi, discussing both Guglielmo Vicario and Richarlison.

Juventus director Carnevali had a remote meeting with Tottenham coach De Zerbi in previous days, according to Gazzetta.

Juventus interested in Vicario

Carnevali was the Sassuolo director who hired De Zerbi in 2018 and the pair worked together for three years at the Mapei Stadium.

According to Gazzetta, Carnevali contacted De Zerbi to sound out his availability to sell Italy international Vicario who is quickly becoming Juventus’ top goalkeeping option after Aston Villa announced they’d not sell Dibu Martinez.

The conversation also involved Brazilian striker Richarlison who has less than a year left in his contract with Spurs and seems unwilling to pen a new deal.

According to the report, Tottenham’s asking price for the 29-year-old is around €25m, but Richarlison remains a ‘Plan B’ for the Bianconeri who still hope to bring Randal Kolo Muani back from PSG.

Ironically, Richarlison scored more goals than Kolo Muani at Tottenham last season as the Brazilian managed 12 while the Frenchman only netted five times.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Djed Spence has given the green light to join Inter, and even if Tottenham are open to a sale, their asking price is €35m.

Tottenham full-back Spence has become Inter’s new target after the Nerazzurri failed to sign both Marco Palestra and Anan Khalaili.

The first one joined Chelsea instead of Inter, while Khalaili failed his medical tests before a €25m transfer plus add-ons could be completed.

According to Thursday’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, Spence is open to joining Inter, so personal terms are not expected to be an issue.

Tottenham are also open to offers for the ex-Genoa loanee, yet Spurs currently demand €35m for the versatile full-back, who can either play on the right or left flank.

Spence is expected to be Roberto De Zerbi’s second-choice option at right-back in 2026-27, with Spanish international Pedro Porro picked as right-back.

According to Gazzetta, Inter had also enquired about Pedro Porro earlier this summer, but found Tottenham uninterested in the Spaniard’s sale. Porro signed a contract extension until 2031 in North London this past June.

Spence, 25, is under contract with Tottenham until June 2029, but the club holds an option to extend for a further campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are demanding €50m to sell defender Cristian Romero, claim Sportitalia, so Inter are very unlikely to beat Barcelona to his signature.

It was reported this evening by Fabrizio Romano on his Italian language YouTube channel that Romero had been proposed to Inter by Spurs during negotiations for right-back Djed Spence.

Notably, this was an idea put forward by Tottenham directors and not a request for information by Inter.

Cuti Romero asking price set for Inter

Sportitalia transfer expert Gianluigi Longari now provides further details, which is that the asking price for the Argentina international is €50m.

That is just under what the Premier League side paid to buy him from Atalanta in 2022, the fee then €53.8m after an initial loan spell in 2021-22.

Although he only recently signed a new contract in August 2025, the rapport between the defender and Tottenham has plummeted in recent months.

Both club and player believe their time together is over, but with a contract until 2029, they need to reach an agreement.

Inter had already baulked at paying €50m for Marco Palestra, a young player with future sale value, so are unlikely to shell out a similar sum for a centre-back, not to mention his wage demands.

The 28-year-old already knows Serie A well, having played for Genoa, Juventus and Atalanta.

Inter and Barcelona are interested in signing Cristian Romero, claims Fabrizio Romano, as the Argentina international could leave Tottenham Hotspur.

The 28-year-old’s future has been up in the air for a while, as his current contract runs to June 2029, but he is frustrated at their difficulties after risking relegation.

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Sportitalia had already reported that he was pushing for an exit this summer.

Romero proposed to Inter

According to transfer pundit Romano in his Italian-language YouTube channel, it was during talks between Inter and Tottenham for Djed Spence that they discussed Romero too.

He claims that it was Tottenham who suggested Inter look into the possibility of buying Romero.

The Nerazzurri are seeking an experienced centre-back and Cuti would fit the bill, especially as there is already a strong Argentine flavour at the club with Lautaro Martinez and vice president Javier Zanetti.

More importantly, Romero already knows Serie A well, having come to Italy for Genoa in 2018, then playing for Juventus and Atalanta, where he made the €53.8m move to Tottenham in the summer of 2021.

Sandro Tonali has recently joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that has made him the most expensive Italy international of all time, and the former Milan man also sits comfortably at the top of the list of Italian players with the highest cumulative transfer fees, leading Al-Qadsiah’s Mateo Retegui in second place.

Tonali has recently joined Tottenham in a deal believed to be worth around €115m (just shy of £100m) including bonuses and add-ons, making him the most expensive Italy international of all-time.

Tonali had already cost Newcastle a package worth a potential €70m when he moved to St James’s Park from Milan in the summer of 2023, and had cost the Rossoneri a double-figure fee when he joined them from Brescia. That means he has raked in just shy of €200m in total transfer fees across his career already.

Tonali is one of three Italy internationals past and present whose combined transfer fees exceed the €100m mark.

Second on the list is Al-Qadsiah’s Retegui, who held the Italian transfer record when he joined the Saudi Pro League outfit from Atalanta last summer. La Dea earned in excess of €65m from that particular transfer.

Leonardo Bonucci completes the top three for most expensive Italy players by cumulative transfer fees. His most expensive move came when he joined Milan for €42m in 2017, but was signed back by the Bianconeri the following season in a deal reported to be worth €35m.

Below is the full list of the top 10 Italy players by their cumulative transfer fees.

Top 10 Italy players by cumulative transfer fees

Sandro Tonali – €194.4m

Mateo Retegui – €109.9m

Leonardo Bonucci – €107m

Christian Vieri – €99m

Moise Kean – €79m

Riccardo Calafiori – €78.1m

Jorginho – €77.8m

Giacomo Raspadori – €77m

Mario Balotelli – €72.5m

Gianluca Scamacca – €71m

According to Tuttosport, ex-Tottenham loanee Palhinha has attracted interest from Juventus, who have also been offered Sassuolo’s Nemanja Matic.

Juventus have prioritised the purchase of a goalkeeper and a centre-forward but are also looking for reinforcements in central midfield.

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Juventus’ potential midfield targets

According to Tuttosport, ex-Tottenham loanee Palinha is an option for the Bianconeri, who, however, have not yet made a move to sign the Portuguese from Bayern Munich.

The Serie A giants are not yet in talks for any potential reinforcement in the middle of the park and are keeping an eye on several targets.

According to Tuttosport, even Sassuolo midfielder Matic, a former Chelsea and Roma star, has been offered to the Bianconeri.

Giovanni Carnevali signed the experienced 37-year-old central midfielder at Sassuolo last summer, and Matic has the same agents as Emiliano Martinez, who is Juventus’ top target in goal.

Juventus failed to qualify for the Champions League in 2025-26 and will be playing in the Europa League in 2026-27.

Rafael Leao was proposed to Tottenham Hotspur, claims transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano, but Roberto De Zerbi’s club are so far not interested in making an offer to Milan.

The Portugal international put himself on the market this summer when giving several interviews assuring that he had given his all to the Rossoneri, so was ready for the next adventure.

He stated that the Premier League and LaLiga might be more suited to his style of football, but getting clubs ready to pay even the reduced asking price of €60m is proving very difficult indeed.

Truth about Tottenham and Leao

There have been suggestions that Tottenham Hotspur are interested, but transfer pundit Romano claims on his YouTube channel that this is the wrong way round.

Instead, Leao’s intermediaries proposed him to Spurs, who were not particularly excited by the idea of signing the winger.

The desire to separate goes two ways, because Leao is only under contract until June 2028 and Milan have no intention of offering an extension, eager to get his wages off the books.

That is effectively confirmed by new coach Ruben Amorim, who said that the ‘ideal’ position for Christian Pulisic is on the left side of a trident attack.

That is the position currently held by Leao, forcing the USMNT star to shift over onto the right.

So far, the only genuine interest in him has come from Benfica and Galatasaray.

Radu Dragusin admits he ‘couldn’t wait to get here’ and join Fiorentina, but his experience at Tottenham Hotspur ‘helped me grow a great deal.’

The defender completed the transfer to the Viola this afternoon, on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season if certain conditions are met.

Dragusin back in Serie A

“I feel really good, I am so happy to be here and can’t wait to get started with the lads on the pitch,” Dragusin told the official Fiorentina website.

The Romania international already speaks fluent Italian, as he spent much of his career in the peninsula.

He first came to Italy with the Juventus youth academy in 2018, then after loans at Sampdoria and Salernitana, he flourished at Genoa from 2022.

This earned him a €28m sale to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2024, but now he is back on loan for €1.5m with an obligation to buy for a further €17.5m to be activated at his 22nd appearance for the Viola.

“I had already come to Florence a few times when playing for Genoa, just as a tourist to visit this beautiful city and its amiable people. There is a big season ahead of us and we certainly want to do well,” continued Dragusin.

“The experience at Tottenham helped me grow a great deal, both as a player and a man. I carry with me the many tough duels I had with opposition strikers, the quality of the players I faced. It helped me to mature and I hope to bring that experience with me in this new team.”

There are some familiar faces for Dragusin in the current Fiorentina squad too.

“I already played with Albert Gudmundsson at Genoa and we have a great rapport. I also know Fagioli, Kean and Ranieri, so we exchanged some messages over the last few days. I couldn’t wait to get here.”