Juventus Transfer Market: Franck Kessié Flirts with the Old Lady
Franck Kessié is proving to be one of the Ivory Coast’s standout players in this World Cup. The Ivorians advanced from the group stage, finishing in second place behind Germany, and will now face Haaland’s Norway in the round of 16. In recent days, however, the former Milan midfielder has been in the spotlight not only for his performances on the field. The future of the 1996-born player is, in fact, one of the hottest topics in the transfer market: his contract with Al-Ahli expires on June 30, and all signs point to him leaving on a free transfer. This situation has reignited interest from several clubs, especially Italian ones.
Among the clubs paying the closest attention is Atalanta, which is considering bringing the Ivorian midfielder back, but Juventus, led by Luciano Spalletti, is also reportedly on his trail. When asked about Juventus’ interest, Kessié replied with his usual smile: “There’s talk about Juventus; I’ve read about it too. Right now, I’m only thinking about the World Cup, but I can say one thing: I’d be a great signing. I’m in good shape and, above all, a free agent. It’s hard to ask for more.” In an interview with *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the player added: “It’s normal that so many clubs are interested in me. For now, though, I’m still an Al-Ahli player and I want to focus on the Round of 32. After that, we’ll see what happens.”
Kessié finally confirmed the buzz surrounding his name: “My agent is working on it, and the phone calls keep coming. It’s an understandable situation: given my current physical condition and contract terms, I’d be betting on myself too.” His words seem to leave the door open for a return to Serie A. Atalanta would gladly welcome him back after his stint in Bergamo during the 2016–17 season. Furthermore, Atalanta’s new sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, has been following him for some time and had already tried to bring him to Juventus when he was leaving Barcelona. The possibility of a move to Juventus therefore remains to be monitored, a prospect that Kessié himself has neither confirmed nor ruled out.
