Juventus to pursue Napoli's Lobotka as first Spalletti signing
Juventus are preparing a summer move for Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka as one of new manager Luciano Spalletti's first major requests, according to reports in Italy. The move signals the club's intent to back Spalletti's vision after recently securing his long-term future with a new contract until 2028.
The Slovakian international, 29, is seen as an ideal profile to add experience, personality, and technical quality to the Juventus midfield. Spalletti and Lobotka share an excellent relationship from their time together at Napoli, where the coach is credited with helping the player make his definitive leap in quality. Spalletti is reportedly prepared to personally call Lobotka to convince him to join the project in Turin, where he would be envisioned in a three-man midfield alongside Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram.
The path to a deal, however, is described as complex. Lobotka's contract with Napoli runs until June 2027, and he is not currently inclined to sign an extension. While Napoli would not necessarily rule out a summer sale, his release clause of 25 million euros is only valid for foreign clubs. Should an Italian club like Juventus make an approach, that figure may not be sufficient, potentially requiring a higher fee to convince Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to sell to a direct rival.
Lobotka's current net salary at Napoli is around 4 million euros per year, a figure considered manageable for Juventus. The club is aware that negotiations with De Laurentiis could be protracted and difficult but is expected to make an attempt, hoping the player's own desire for the move could influence the situation.
The pursuit of Lobotka comes as Juventus have solidified their commitment to Spalletti's long-term project. The club recently discarded a conditional option tied to Champions League qualification that was agreed last October and instead handed the Italian manager a new deal directly, worth approximately 6 million euros per season. This is viewed as a clear endorsement of his football philosophy and a signal that the club is ready to undertake challenging negotiations to provide him with the tools he deems essential for an immediate push for trophies.
While focusing on Lobotka, Juventus are also maintaining other options for midfield reinforcement. Among them is Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka, whose agents have recently sounded out interest from several Serie A clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan. The main obstacle for Goretzka is his significant financial demands, reported to be a three-year deal worth 7 million euros per season plus a 10 million euro signing bonus.
The potential acquisition of Lobotka represents a strategic shift, aiming to inject proven Serie A expertise into a midfield being rebuilt under Spalletti. His ball-playing ability and defensive intelligence were central to Napoli's Scudetto-winning campaign under Spalletti in the 2022-23 season. Securing his signature would be a significant early victory in the new sporting era at Juventus, directly addressing the manager's request for a seasoned controller in the engine room.
