Real Madrid have been handed a significant transfer blow after news broke that top target Paulo Dybala is on course to sign a new deal with Juventus.
The striker had been at the top of Real’s summer wish list, but reports in Italy have revealed that Dybala will commit his future to I Bianconeri and, in the process, rebuff any rumoured advances from the La Liga giants.
Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta was asked by Mediaset about a potential delay in Dybala’s supposed new deal, but the 60-year-old stated that he had no concerns over the 23-year-old putting pen to paper on the contract negotiated between the club and Dybala’s representatives.
He said: “There’s no concern at all over renewing Dybala’s contract. His advisors are still in Argentina, but they’ll be coming to Italy at the end of the month and we’ll put everything black on white then.”
The news comes as a big blow to Real, who had hoped to secure Dybala’s signature in the close season after becoming interested in the Argentinian marksman following his goal record in Serie A.
Dybala’s record of 35 goals in just 74 appearances for Juventus led Los Blancos, as well as a host of other top European sides, to begin closely monitoring his situation in Turin.
The forward, whose contract runs until June 2020, was believed to have assured Real club president Florentino Perez that he planned to head to Spain from Italy back in January, with Mundo Deportivo alleging that discussions had taken place for Dybala to move to the Bernabeu.
However, Real – alongside bitter rivals Barcelona and Premier League giants Manchester United – will have to turn their attentions elsewhere in the event that Dyball signs on the dotted line at the Juventus Stadium.
The former Palermo star lifted a domestic treble with the reigning Scudetto champions during his maiden campaign with Massimiliano Allegri’s men and looks on course to add another league winner’s medal to his collection if Juve can hold off Napoli and Roma in the race for the Italian top flight trophy this season.