Franck Kessie is not exactly being subtle about where he wants to play next season. The Ivorian midfielder, set to become a free agent on June 30, has publicly declared that he would be a “great signing” for Juventus, effectively pitching himself to one of Serie A’s biggest clubs while his agents work the phones in the background.
He reportedly turned down a contract renewal from Al-Ahli worth €12 million per year. Walking away from that kind of money to pursue a return to European football is either deeply principled or deeply calculated. Probably both.
The negotiation gap
Kessie’s representatives have already been in contact with Juventus, and a meeting with club CEO Giovanni Carnevali is scheduled to take place in Milan this week. The two sides are negotiating around a potential two-year deal, but there’s a meaningful gap between what each party considers reasonable compensation.
Juventus is reportedly willing to offer up to €5 million net per season. Kessie’s camp wants at least €6 million net. That €1 million annual difference might not sound like much relative to the numbers being thrown around, but it represents a 20% gap between floor and ceiling.
