Juventus have a strong interest in Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardzic, despite the club insisting that they do not need to sell. Friulani vice president Stefano Campoccia was quoted at the first edition of the Serie A Festival in Parma, saying: “Udinese is strong and doesn’t need to sell.”
Calciomercato report that despite this claim, there are players in the squad who have already attracted interest from other clubs, with Samardzic being a standout. The Serbian midfielder, one of the key players under Fabio Cannavaro who helped secure Udinese’s Serie A survival, is particularly admired by Juventus, though interest from foreign clubs could also emerge.
Campoccia did not dismiss the possibility of a sale: “If the right conditions are met and the player is agreeable, it’s an option the club will consider.” In other words, a convincing offer could see Samardzic leave Udinese. Juventus is looking for a significant midfield reinforcement and needs a starter after delaying a major investment last winter. Teun Koopmeiners of Atalanta remains the primary target, but during the summer, the Samardzic option might become viable, possibly involving player exchanges that could appeal to Udinese.
With Udinese securing their Serie A status on the final matchday, they avoided the risk of losing Samardzic for free. The midfielder’s contract included a release clause allowing him to leave if the club was relegated, a situation narrowly avoided. Therefore, the clause did not activate, and any club wanting Samardzic this summer will need to negotiate directly with Udinese’s president, Giampaolo Pozzo.
