Daniele Rugani will return to Juventus following the conclusion of his loan spell at Fiorentina, as the Tuscan club did not meet the conditions to trigger a permanent transfer. According to reports in Italy, Fiorentina would have been obligated to purchase Rugani for €2.5 million had they avoided relegation from Serie A and the defender made at least five league starts, or played a minimum of 45 minutes in five matches. Neither condition was met.
Rugani’s contract with Juventus is valid until June 2028, presenting a challenge for the club in finding a suitable path forward for the 32-year-old. Another loan move is considered difficult given the length of his current deal and his salary of €1.8 million net per season, which is seen as prohibitive for many Italian clubs and those outside of top-tier leagues. Juventus may even consider contributing to a portion of his wages to facilitate a transfer.
Despite these challenges, Juventus are reportedly considering retaining Rugani within their squad, citing both financial and tactical reasons. The defender’s presence could be valuable in compiling the squad list for Europa League participation, particularly if Federico Gatti is sold, as Rugani is an Italian player and fulfills UEFA squad requirements. His experience as a youth product of the club would also allow the club to focus resources on acquiring a non-Italian defender of a higher caliber.
Technically, Rugani is not expected to be a first-team regular under coach Luciano Spalletti, but could provide a useful option in Europa League matches against opponents of a lower ranking, offering squad rotation. His experience within a winning cycle at Juventus is also seen as a potential leadership asset in the dressing room, valued for his respect of team hierarchies.
In a separate development, Douglas Luiz Soares de Paulo, known as Douglas Luiz, is also returning to Juventus after his loan spell at Aston Villa. The Premier League club opted not to exercise their option to buy the Brazilian midfielder, who originally joined Juventus in 2024 for a fee of €50 million. He has a contract with Juventus until 2029, earning approximately €5 million net per season, and the club is hoping he can rediscover his form under Spalletti.
