La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Domenico Berardi has expressed his desire to join Juventus, but the final decision now rests with Sassuolo. Berardi’s connection with Juventus stretches back some years, and while he was once on their books, he never made an official appearance for the Bianconeri.
La Gazzetta outline how over the years, there have been numerous attempts to bring him back, but none have come to fruition. The most recent near-miss occurred last summer when an agreement was reached between the player and Juventus, but Sassuolo refused to sell, leaving Berardi to remain where he was.
Currently, Berardi is sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury and is expected to return to the pitch by the end of the year. This setback, however, has not dampened his hopes of a move to Juventus. The relegation of Sassuolo to Serie B might actually facilitate this transfer.
A preliminary discussion has taken place between the 29-year-old and Juventus, and the matter will be further explored in the coming months, depending on Berardi’s recovery progress. The winger is keen on the move and has already given his ‘enthusiastic’ approval.
Berardi is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Versilia following the injury he sustained in early March, and recovery is anticipated to take around nine months. He’s aiming for a return between November and December. Despite his high salary of 3 million euros per season, which is substantial for a Serie B team, Sassuolo are unlikely to sell him cheaply.
The Bianconeri have not yet approached Giovanni Carnevali, Sassuolo’s CEO, regarding the transfer. The details of the transfer, including the fee and structure, remain the primary hurdles. Juventus might propose a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy, potentially including a young player to sweeten the deal for Sassuolo.
For Sassuolo, Berardi is a key player, and they are reluctant to part with him unless the conditions are right. On the Juventus side, there are uncertainties regarding Federico Chiesa, whose contract expires in 2025 and who has yet to agree to an extension. Under new manager Thiago Motta, Juventus is expected to play with formations like 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, requiring multiple wingers. Mason Greenwood, currently on loan at Getafe from Manchester United, is also on their radar.
Juventus previously owned Berardi’s rights, but in 2016, the player himself opted not to transfer. Over the years, several top Italian clubs, including Inter, Lazio, Roma, and Atalanta, have shown interest, but no deals materialized. Cristiano Giuntoli, Juventus’ Director of Football, is a long-time admirer of Berardi and has previously attempted to sign him for Napoli. Last summer, Giuntoli nearly secured Berardi’s transfer to Juventus but couldn’t reach an agreement with Sassuolo, who valued him at over 30 million euros.
With Berardi a year older and still recovering from his injury, it is unlikely that Sassuolo will demand the same fee. The priority for Juventus’ management is currently their midfield, especially resolving Adrien Rabiot’s contract situation, with a decision expected this week.
