Juventus Pursue Mateo Retegui as Deadline Approaches
Juventus are pushing their attacking rebuild right up against the deadline – and Mateo Retegui has suddenly jumped back onto their radar.
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the Italy international has emerged as a late target as Luciano Spalletti looks to add one more centre-forward before the window shuts. The Bianconeri have already reshaped their front line, bringing in Randal Kolo Muani and Jeff Ekhator, but losing Dusan Vlahovic on a free and sending Lois Openda out on loan has left a clear gap through the middle.
There is a catch. Juventus need to sell before they buy. Jonathan David must be moved on before any fresh deal in attack can be signed off, with Joshua Zirkzee and Alexander Sorloth also sitting on the shortlist.
Spalletti’s trusted No 9
Retegui is not a new name in Turin. Juventus monitored him in previous windows, and his stock inside the club remains high. Spalletti knows exactly what he would be getting from his spell in charge of the Azzurri: relentless work rate, sharp movement in the box, a striker who lives off half-chances and does the dirty running as well as the finishing.
Inside the club hierarchy, the move has another powerful supporter. Sporting director Marco Ottolini is the man who first brought Retegui to Serie A from Argentina during his time at Genoa in 2023. He has already seen the forward adapt once and believes he could slot straight back into Italian football.
That familiarity is driving the idea of a deal built around minimal risk.
Loan preferred, salary the problem
Tuttosport report that Juventus would look to structure any move as an initial loan if the 27-year-old shows a real desire to return to Italy. Convincing the player himself is not viewed as the stumbling block.
His pay packet is.
Retegui earns an eye-watering €20 million per year at Al-Qadsiah, where he is under contract until 2028 after a €65m switch from Atalanta. That salary level is miles beyond what Juventus can realistically absorb without help.
The forward remains a key figure in Saudi Arabia. He started and played 73 minutes in Al-Qadsiah’s 3-1 win at Al-Shabab on the opening weekend of the Saudi Pro League, underlining that the club still see him as central to their plans.
For Juventus, that only hardens Al-Qadsiah’s negotiating stance. Any deal would almost certainly require the Saudis to cover a significant slice of those wages, and there is no sign yet that they are ready to do so.
Clock ticking in Turin
Time is draining away. Juventus still need to find a buyer for David to unlock their final attacking move, all while Spalletti pushes for another proven focal point to carry the load across a packed, unforgiving schedule.
Retegui fits the profile. The finances do not. Unless Al-Qadsiah soften and agree to subsidise a large portion of his salary, this late-window pursuit looks destined to stay exactly that – an idea, rather than the striker Spalletti wants leading his line.
