Juventus find themselves in a familiar situation as midfielders Arthur and striker Arkadiusz Milik remain at the club despite being outside of the first-team plans, according to reports in Italy. Both players have one year remaining on their contracts, but a combination of injury issues, high wages, and a lack of concrete offers complicates any potential departures.
This situation stems from previous contract renewals undertaken primarily to spread wage costs and alleviate the financial burden on the club following unsuccessful performances. Arthur arrived in Turin in the summer of 2020 as part of a swap deal with Barcelona involving Miralem Pjanic, valued at €72 million plus €10 million in bonuses. However, the Brazilian has spent only two of his six seasons with Juventus, undertaking loan spells at Liverpool, Fiorentina, Girona, and Gremio, each time returning to Italy.
To lessen the financial impact, Juventus granted Arthur two contract extensions, resulting in a residual cost of €6.5 million and a gross salary of approximately €5 million. While his recent stint in Brazil showed promise, Arthur continued to struggle with physical fragility, suffering two muscle injuries from January onwards. At 30 years old, this physical condition hinders both a potential revival at Juventus and interest from other clubs.
Milik’s continued presence is similarly attributed to a series of injuries, which have also taken a toll on his mental wellbeing. The Polish international recently revealed to RMF radio in his home country that he has battled with emotional lows due to his recurring setbacks. Despite these difficulties, Milik expressed a desire to continue fighting for his place. He is contracted to Juventus until 2027 following a previous extension from 2025. He has made only two appearances in the last two seasons, against Sassuolo and Genoa, indicating his limited role in the squad.
As it stands, both Arthur and Milik face the prospect of remaining at Juventus without significant playing time under new manager Massimiliano Allegri. This situation could also hamper the club’s ability to bring in new players, as their high wages continue to impact the wage bill.
