The Argentine has signed a one-year contract, he’s fine in Turin. But uncertainty weighs on the company’s court cases
After all, we had seen a similar scene recently. Final of Juventus-Monza of Coppa Italia, bianconeri ahead by one goal and Angel Di Maria tries… the rabona! Effective number, which however is not successful. Luckily for Fideo, Landucci was on the bench that evening and not Massimiliano Allegri, who was disqualified.
On Thursday, however, when Di Maria tried a decidedly complicated pocket, losing the ball in the final against Lazio, Max was there and went on a rampage, even making it to the locker room early. “The ball, in the 90th minute of such an important match, must be handled differently”, the Juventus coach limited himself to saying after the match. It is not the first time that Allegri has publicly lost his temper over the play of one of his players, but everything is usually recomposed without consequences. This seems to be the case, all the more so because the player in question is a certain Angel Di Maria, to whom Max has always recognized the status of a special category: that of champions. Well, the question then arises: will Juve with an uncertain future, between judicial inquiries, penalties and messy accounts, still be able to afford champions at Fideo? The answer, just a few months ago, would have been an obvious yes. In fact, the former Juventus management had tried in every way to convince the Argentine to sign for at least two seasons, also to take advantage of the growth decree. It was Di Maria who won for a one-year contract, also to feel free to evaluate the possibility of returning to Rosario Central, the club that launched him into professional football. And, recently, Fideo to Tyc Sports confirmed his willingness to end his career at home. But, at the same time, he also gave some signals to Juve. Like after the match against Atalanta: “My family is happy in Turin, my decision on the future will also depend on this.”
The situation
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The situation So far the player’s point of view, but in the meantime the club is also beginning to reflect on the opportunity of offering Di Maria a new deal. With bonuses, the Argentine earns around 7.5 million a year, a heavy salary, even in light of the 35-year-old he will turn on 14 February. But the speech is obviously not only technical. Juve, at the moment, cannot plan the future with a certain reasoning. Between the current -15 in the standings (but there is still the third degree at the Coni guarantee college…), the trend on the two salary maneuvers (2020 and 2021) and the Uefa investigation, the Juventus club lives in a limbo of uncertainty. It is clear that a Juve without European cups in 2023-24 would not only have less appeal among players, but would inevitably see revenues contract. Less revenue, equal less investment opportunities. Starting right from the cost of employees, footballers in the first place. Offering the same contract to Di Maria, under these conditions, would be complicated. In addition, the new Juventus management, on the precise imprinting of the property, will have to settle the accounts that have fallen in the last few years of the Andrea Agnelli management. “No new capital increases”, the prediction put in black and white in the minutes of the last shareholders’ meeting, on January 18th. This means that Juve will have to stand on their own feet, as they have often shown in the past to be able to do. But in an anomalous situation like the one he could soon find himself in, the Di Maria on duty would be much more difficult to afford.
February 4, 2023 (change February 4, 2023 | 08:11)
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