Kenan Yildiz - Juventus: salary deadlock, big gamble
Contract extension negotiations between Kenan Yildiz and Juventus are at a standstill: the request for 5-6 million euros net/season clashes with austerity policies, with European giants lurking.
The contract renewal negotiations between Kenan Yildiz and Juventus have reached a dead end. The player wants a net salary of 5-6 million euros/season, while Juventus maintains a tight stance on costs. The gap in views has widened, putting the team's "new number 10" in the center of a storm of transfer rumors and forcing the board to gamble on choosing.
The salary impasse and the locker room frame of reference
According to the source, the remuneration requested by Yildiz's representative would put him in the highest income group at Juventus, just behind Dusan Vlahovic's 12 million euros/season and on par with names like Jonathan David. It is an offer that reflects the player's growing role, but collides directly with the club's current payment ceiling.
Technical roles and expectations of the coach
The stagnation worries the sporting department and especially coach Luciano Spalletti, who sees Yildiz as a pillar of the technical project. When a player is positioned at the center of tactical ideas, the market reflects that in numbers. For Yildiz, “tangible recognition” is called a contract at the salary scale of the biggest stars.
Juventus under austerity policy
Contrary to the demands of the players, Juventus under the management of new CEO Damien Comolli pursued a more sustainable direction in terms of budget. The policy of reducing the wage bill was the guiding principle, making the offer of 5-6 million euros net/season considered too high for a very young talent. As a result, the negotiating table erected a "wall" of opinions, causing the renewal process to be stopped abruptly after a period that seemed to be on the right track.
Waiting market: Chelsea, Arsenal, Real, Bayern, Barcelona
The void left by the impasse has been quickly filled by European giants. Chelsea have been scouting since the summer; Arsenal, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are also keeping a close eye on the player. With the ability to meet Yildiz’s financial demands, this group of candidates could put Juventus in a passive position if the internal agreement is not resolved soon.
Top level release button: waiting for decision from Exor
With negotiations deadlocked, Italian media said only high-level intervention could break the deadlock. All eyes turned to John Elkann, head of Exor – Juventus’s parent company. A decision from the top could pave the way for a financial compromise to keep the player, seen as a symbol of rebirth.
Two roads ahead
- Compromise: Senior intervention helped find a compromise salary framework that preserved Yildiz's compensation structure and status.
- No consensus: Juventus faces the risk of losing its "gem" to a powerful rival, while the technical project is forced to be recalibrated.
Juventus are holding their breath as they face a decision that could define their trajectory: bet on the ambitions of a rising talent, or stick to their financial principles as they rebuild. On the negotiating table, each figure now carries the weight of an entire project.