News Focus
- Luciano Spalletti has asked Juventus to sign Stanislav Lobotka from Napoli
- The coach and player won the Italian league title together in 2023
- Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis refuses to sell to domestic rivals
- The Slovakian’s contract includes a €25m clause only valid for foreign clubs
Luciano Spalletti wants Juventus to sign Stanislav Lobotka. The coach believes the midfielder can help the Turin club reach the Champions League.
The pair worked together at Napoli. They won the Scudetto in 2023. Spalletti thinks Lobotka can control the centre of the pitch for his new team.
However, this deal faces major obstacles. Juventus and Napoli are fierce enemies. They rarely complete transfers between each other.
Lobotka joined Napoli in 2020. His current contract runs until June 2027. The club holds an option to extend for one more year. This only activates if he plays in 50 per cent of official matches during the 2026-27 campaign. If he fails to meet this target, he becomes a free agent.
The Slovakia international turns 32 in November. He suffered several injuries this term. Despite this, he made 38 appearances and scored one goal.
His contract contains a release clause worth €25 million. Importantly, this only applies to clubs outside of Italy until mid-July.
Napoli added these conditions after Juventus bought Gonzalo Higuain in the past. Club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis wants to avoid repeating that situation. He will demand at least €30 million for the player.
Lobotka’s representative recently hinted at problems with Antonio Conte’s rigorous training methods. He later dismissed these comments as a joke.