Fiorentina have submitted a formal bid to sign Joao Mario from Juventus, with the clubs now in advanced negotiations over a season-long loan that could become permanent. Sky Sport Italia reports that the Viola have proposed an initial temporary move with an option to buy the 26-year-old for a fee between €8 million and €9 million.
The Portugal international is not expected to feature in Luciano Spalletti’s plans for the upcoming campaign, and a transfer away from Turin appears imminent. Talks are reportedly progressing quickly, with an agreement potentially reachable within the coming week.
Struggles in Turin
Joao Mario joined Juventus from FC Porto in a deal worth €12.6 million last summer but failed to establish himself at the Allianz Stadium. He managed just 10 Serie A appearances for the Bianconeri, registering one assist, before being loaned to Bologna in January as part of an exchange that saw defender Emil Holm move in the opposite direction.
Neither club opted to convert either loan arrangement into a permanent transfer, forcing both players to return to their parent clubs for pre-season training. During his spell with Bologna, Joao Mario featured 15 times and scored twice, though this was insufficient to earn a long-term contract.
Financial implications
The proposed transfer fee represents a depreciation from the €12.6 million Juventus originally invested. Under the terms of that initial purchase, Porto are entitled to 10 per cent of any profit generated from a future sale. However, should Fiorentina exercise their purchase option at €8-9 million, Juventus would record a loss on the asset, meaning Porto would not receive additional compensation.
What happens next
For Fiorentina, securing Joao Mario would mark their sixth acquisition of the summer transfer window, following arrivals including Radu Dragusin, Viery, Alex Jimenez, Christ Inao Oulai and Arthur Atta. The move offers the full-back an opportunity to rebuild his career in familiar surroundings, having already demonstrated his capabilities in Serie A during his stint with Bologna.
Juventus, meanwhile, would offload a squad member deemed surplus to requirements whilst retaining the possibility of recouping a portion of their initial outlay should the purchase option be triggered at the season’s end.