Juventus Eye Retegui as Late Transfer Target

Juventus are pushing late in the window, and a familiar name has moved back to the top of their board: Retegui.

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the Italy international has emerged as a serious late option as Luciano Spalletti chases one more centre-forward before the market shuts. The Bianconeri have already reshaped their attack, bringing in Randal Kolo Muani and Jeff Ekhator, but the departures have bitten hard. Dusan Vlahovic has gone for nothing, Lois Openda has been sent out on loan, and the squad still feels one striker light.

There is a catch. Before anyone else walks through the door, Juventus need to move Jonathan David on. His sale is seen as essential to unlock any further business, with Joshua Zirkzee and Alexander Sorloth also sitting on a shortlist that is growing more urgent by the day.

Spalletti’s trusted No 9

Retegui is not a new idea in Turin. Juventus tracked him in previous windows and never quite stepped away. Now he is back on their radar at the moment of maximum need.

Spalletti knows exactly what he would be getting. The coach worked closely with the forward during his time in charge of the Azzurri and is a firm admirer of his relentless work rate and sharp instincts inside the penalty area. For a manager obsessed with structure and pressing triggers, Retegui’s profile fits.

Inside the club, the move has another powerful supporter. Sporting director Marco Ottolini is the executive who first pulled Retegui into Serie A from Argentina, signing him for Genoa in 2023. He has already seen the striker adapt to Italian football once and believes he can do it again.

The salary wall

On paper, Juventus have a clear plan. As per Tuttosport, the preferred formula would be an initial loan, provided the 27-year-old shows a genuine desire to return to Italy.

Convincing the player is not viewed as the problem. The finances are. Retegui earns an enormous €20 million per year at Al-Qadsiah, a figure that rips straight through Juventus’ current wage structure and turns a smart football move into a financial headache.

The scale of the deal is underlined by his contract. Retegui is tied to Al-Qadsiah until 2028, after joining from Atalanta in a €65m transfer. He started their Saudi Pro League campaign at the weekend, playing 73 minutes in a 3-1 win away to Al-Shabab, a reminder that he remains a key part of their project.

Clock ticking in Turin

Time is not on Juventus’ side. They still need to find a buyer for David, then wrap up their attacking rebuild before the deadline closes in.

Spalletti wants a proven focal point, someone who can shoulder minutes and push competition for places across a packed schedule. Retegui fits the description, knows the league, and has a coach and sporting director firmly in his corner.

But unless Al-Qadsiah agree to cover a significant slice of those towering wages, this late-window pursuit stays what it looks like right now: an ambitious swing that may never leave the drawing board.