Reports in Italy had claimed that Juventus have activated Miralem Pjanic’s €38m release clause and that it will come down to the player’s decision.
As noted last month by Sky Sports, Antonio Conte had earmarked the Bosnian playmaker to be a part of his rebuild at Stamford Bridge this summer.
However, it appeared as though the Italian tactician could have been left disappointed with the Serie A champions seemingly making the first big move by meeting the clause.
According to Sport Mediaset, the Bianconeri had essentially put the decision in the 26-year-old’s hands as Roma can no longer intervene and reject the offer if the clause is activated.
It didn’t take long for Roma to issue a response though, as an official statement on the club website insisted that no such offer had been made.
Having scored 30 goals in 183 competitive games for the capital club since his arrival from Lyon in 2011, Pjanic has established himself as an important part of the Giallorossi’s starting line-up and future plans.
Coupled with the rivalry between Roma and Juve, it is unclear as to whether a move to Turin is a realistic option anyway, but the appeal of joining Massimiliano Allegri’s side would be difficult for any player to ignore given their growing aspirations and strength in depth.
With talk of the release clause dismissed, Chelsea will still consider themselves in the running for Pjanic this summer if Conte is indeed keen on adding the midfield maestro to his squad.
Given the transfer fee involved and the quality that the Roma star would add, it would seem nonsensical for Europe’s top clubs to monitor the situation closely.
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