New reports suggest Barcelona and Juventus May be getting along pretty well these days as the two Giants have held talks on exchanging multiple players. It is now confirmed that they have pushed this action into gear when Barcelona have confirmed that a player exchange deal was completed involving their youth players Matheus Pereira and Alejandro Marques.
Talks between the Juventus and Barcelona have reportedly been ongoing for over a month. Sources claim also, that they are close to conclusion.
Sky Sport Italia report that the deal is complete with talented youngster Pereira, currently on loan at Dijon in Ligue 1, set to join Barcelona in the coming week.
Juventus will sign 19-year-old striker Alejandro Marques who currently plays for the Barcelona B team.
Juventus director Fabio Paratici essentially confirmed the deal yesterday when speaking ahead of Juve’s 2-1 victory over Parma.
The Brazilian signed for the Italian giants from Empoli in 2017 but has struggled to get regular first-team football and has been shipped out on loan twice, currently to Ligue 1 side Dijon.
He has made just three appearances in Serie A throughout his spell in Turin and Maurizio Sarri is willing to let him leave.
New boss, Quique Setien is rushing through his January transfer window plans after only taking over at Barcelona last week but it is claimed Pereira has been a long-term target.
Setien, who is also a former Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander player is known for his possession football and attacking game plan, which suits the way Barcelona were known for playing in the iconic Pep Guardiola era. Setien, 61, coached Real Betis last season but left by mutual consent after leading the club to a 10th-place finish.
Juventus chief Fabio Paratici has admitted they would allow Pereira to leave the club but are more interested in a swap deal, according to new reports. Paratici admits Juve want to sign young Barcelona striker Alejandro Marques with Pereira heading in the opposite direction later this month. Marques has not played for Barcelona’s first team yet and his contract is due to expire this summer.
Juventus are said to be doing a lot of restructuring. Just some days ago, reports suggest Premier League club Everton are ready to launch a £30million bid for Juventus midfielder Emre Can before the January transfer window closes at the end of the month.
The German international, whose contract with Juventus expires in June 2022, has fallen down the pecking order at the Allianz stadium. The midfielder has not played a game for the Bianconeri this season, after it was made clear that the player wasn’t in new coach Maurizio Sarri’s plans. The coach then left his name off the Champions League list for the first half of the season
Meanwhile, Juventus stars Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado are still in constant contact with Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.The Frenchman’s future at Old Trafford has been up in the air since last summer with Real Madrid and Juve thought to be his two most likely transfer destinations.
Pogba left Juventus in 2016 and rejoined United for £90million but his return to Manchester has been an inconsistent venture. He scored 13 goals last season and recorded nine assists, Pogba’s best numbers in a single campaign for United.
Pogba, is currently out on a foot and ankle injury and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.
