Beppe Marotta confirmed Axel Witsel’s transfer to Juventus “is just delayed” from Zenit and Blaise Matuidi “wanted to come here.”
The director of sport sat down with JTV to discuss the transfer market this summer, including a failed deadline day move for Belgium international Witsel.
Beppe Marotta confirmed Axel Witsel’s transfer to Juventus “is just delayed” from Zenit and Blaise Matuidi “wanted to come here.”
The director of sport sat down with JTV to discuss the transfer market this summer, including a failed deadline day move for Belgium international Witsel.
“The squad in its entirety is competitive, certainly stronger than last season. Naturally it’s not perfect, so there are weaknesses, but we can count on someone like Kwadwo Asamoah who barely played last year and Mario Lemina who is turning into a little champion.
“Witsel was an opportunity that emerged and with the collaboration of Zenit we submitted the player to a medical. In the end Zenit were unable to sign a replacement, so we consider this to be merely a delayed move.
“Over the last few weeks Witsel has repeatedly stated he wants to come here and play for Juventus.”
Witsel was the alternative to first choice, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Matuidi.
“We started negotiations with PSG, it did not close, as unfortunately there are dynamics between player and club that we can’t get into. Matuidi expressed the desire to come and play with us, but he was not our player and quite rightly PSG held on tight.”