Juve CEO Arrivabene concedes De Ligt ´wants to leave´, defends Dybala expiry

Matthijs de Ligt “wants to leave” Juventus according to chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene, who defended the club’s conduct over Paulo Dybala’s departure.

De Ligt signed for Juve from Ajax in 2019 and has made 87 appearances in Serie A since then, but has struggled to find his feet in Italy, amid high expectations that came with an €85million price tag.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move away from Serie A with Chelsea said to be interested in striking a deal, and Juventus are reportedly eyeing his transfer as a means to finance new signings.

In an interview with Tuttosport, Arrivabene conceded De Ligt himself is keen to leave Turin, but his departure will ultimately be a matter of satisfying all parties.

“De Ligt? Today it is impossible to keep a player who wants to leave,” Arrivabene told Tuttosport. “But it is always a question of numbers, it is not that if one wants to go away you answer, ‘Please, take a seat.’

“It is difficult to keep a player, but from the negotiation table all three have to get up satisfied.”

Un minuto di @federicochiesa pic.twitter.com/x2LfzcGzZW

— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) June 29, 2022

Meanwhile, the 65-year-old executive defended Juve’s actions that led to Dybala’s departure after a protracted renegotiation that ultimately failed to materialise.

The breakdown in contract talks punctuated a tumultuous period between Juve and Dybala upon Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival, following a long-term injury layoff and near exit, with the Argentine breaking down in tears after his final home game for the club against Lazio.

Effectively telling Dybala he was not wanted after Dusan Vlahovic’s signing in January, Arrivabene said no player is bigger than the club.

“There was an agreement, then there was the capital increase, we all took a break, of which the prosecutors were informed, and agreed to carry out evaluations within the board of directors,” he said.

“We met again and we said that the terms had changed, because we wanted to move in a different way. So from a four-year contract with certain figures, which I would like to avoid mentioning to avoid further controversy, we moved on to another strategy. Also, everyone knows who arrived in January, don’t they?

“I hope that Dybala will find the team and the satisfactions he deserves. From our point of view, things have a beginning and an end. Juventus is above everyone who have left a profound mark, but the Juventus name is more important.”