Italy international Nicolò Zaniolo is at the center of a transfer dispute between Udinese and Juventus, according to reports in Italy. The situation stems from a disagreement over the player’s contract terms, despite a successful season with the Friuli-based club.
Udinese recently exercised their option to purchase Zaniolo from Galatasaray for approximately €5 million, however, the deal included a clause stipulating that the Turkish club will retain 50% of any future resale value. The core issue now revolves around Zaniolo’s current salary of €1.2 million net per season, a figure Udinese are reportedly unwilling to match long-term, especially after promises made during initial discussions regarding a permanent move.
Zaniolo rediscovered his form at Udinese following a difficult period, contributing five goals and five assists. His performances against Juventus and AC Milan were particularly noteworthy, demonstrating his potential on larger stages. Despite his contributions, he was surprisingly omitted from the Italy squad for the recent playoff matches under manager Rino Gattuso.
Juventus are reportedly interested in Zaniolo, valuing him at around €15 million. The Turin club are waiting to see how the situation unfolds, and could potentially offer a player exchange to sweeten the deal for Udinese, with Vasilije Adzic and Juan Cabal mentioned as possible candidates. Como, recently promoted and ambitious for their Champions League campaign, have also entered the race, with manager Cesc Fabregas keen to add Italian players to his squad.
Juventus are also pursuing Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, but Zaniolo is considered a viable alternative. The player himself is prioritizing a move to remain in Italy, and a meeting between his agent, Claudio Vigorelli, and the Pozzo family, owners of Udinese, is scheduled to take place this week to attempt to resolve the impasse. If an agreement cannot be reached, Zaniolo is expected to leave Udinese, potentially triggering an auction between interested clubs.
