Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti is reportedly prioritizing the acquisition of Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, despite the player’s own desire to remain in Madrid. According to reports in Italy, Spalletti spent his final night in Tuscany fixated on the possibility of coaching Diaz, repeatedly stressing the player’s importance to Juventus’s new sporting director Giovanni Carnevali.
Spalletti reportedly contacted Carnevali following Morocco’s recent World Cup victory against Canada, in which Diaz delivered a standout performance, registering two assists and becoming the first African player to record four assists in a single World Cup tournament. The pair are scheduled to meet at Juventus’s training ground, Continassa, to discuss various transfer targets, including Randal Kolo Muani and Stefan Muharemovic, but Diaz remains a central focus.
Spalletti is believed to be convinced of Diaz’s suitability for Juventus, particularly to fill a perceived void in the team’s attacking midfield. He has extensively reviewed footage of the player and believes his arrival would significantly improve the team’s dynamic. The manager is reportedly willing to wait until the final day of the transfer window to secure Diaz’s signature, drawing parallels to Inter’s swift integration of Wesley Sneijder in 2010.
However, the transfer is complicated by Diaz’s stated preference to return to Real Madrid and work under new manager Jose Mourinho. The player expressed his desire to remain with the Spanish club after the match against Canada, stating his eagerness to train with Mourinho. A loan move to Juventus would only be considered if Mourinho advises it as a beneficial step for his development. Real Madrid may be open to a loan due to an increasingly crowded midfield, with Bernardo Silva among recent additions, but Diaz’s wishes are a significant factor. Carnevali and Spalletti are hoping Mourinho will view a year of first-team football in Turin as a valuable experience for the player.
Juventus are actively pursuing other targets, but Spalletti’s insistence on Diaz suggests he views the Moroccan international as a key component of his plans for the upcoming season.
