In a surprising turn of events, Serbian forward Dušan Vlahović has publicly denied that he engaged in any meaningful contract discussions with Juventus prior to the expiration of his previous deal. This statement contradicts assertions made by former Juventus CEO Damien Comolli, who suggested that the club was eager to retain the player but had been instructed to wait until the end of the season to negotiate.
Comolli, speaking in late May, indicated that Vlahović had expressed a desire to postpone contract talks until the season concluded. He stated, “We would like to continue [with Vlahović], how I don’t know. He told us, let’s meet at the end of the season. That’s it.” However, Vlahović's recent comments to Serbian media suggest a different narrative, one in which he claims no substantive discussions ever took place.
“For three years it has been written that I was refusing a renewal, but the only truth is that I have not had any concrete discussions with the club about it,” Vlahović explained to Mozzart Sport. He emphasized that while there were casual remarks about renewing his contract, nothing of significance materialized. “There were only comments like, ‘We should talk about your contract,’ but everything remained at that level. There were no concrete talks, in which we sat down and discussed it.”
The 26-year-old forward expressed disappointment over the situation, noting the impact it had on his relationship with fans. “I’m sure that partly affected the fans too. It’s not pleasant when the stadium boos you in a friendly match against the Under 23 team,” he remarked. Vlahović also mentioned that his last conversation with Comolli occurred on June 2, which ended without any agreement, and he has not had any contact with the club since then.
Vlahović's departure from Juventus comes after a season marred by injury issues, which he acknowledged played a role in his limited playing time. “I started the season on the bench for a well-known reason: because I was entering the final year of my contract,” he said. He also noted that the arrival of two new strikers contributed to his benching, but he believed the contract situation was the primary factor.
Following the end of his contract with Juventus, Vlahović has signed a three-year deal with Turkish club Beşiktaş, reportedly earning a gross annual salary of €9.38 million. This move marks a significant shift in his career, as he transitions from Serie A to the Turkish Süper Lig.
Juventus, meanwhile, has been actively working to reduce their wage bill, which has influenced their approach to contract negotiations. The club reportedly aimed to offer Vlahović a salary of €6 million per year, while he sought a deal closer to €8 million annually. This discrepancy, along with his injury struggles, ultimately contributed to the breakdown in negotiations.
As Vlahović embarks on this new chapter with Beşiktaş, the circumstances surrounding his exit from Juventus highlight the complexities of contract negotiations in professional football, particularly when injuries and financial constraints come into play.
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