Carlos Alcaraz faces a critical period of two months to demonstrate his worth at Juventus, as the club initiates preparations for summer negotiations with Southampton. The 21-year-old Argentine midfielder entered into a six-month loan agreement with Juventus, amounting to approximately €3.7 million, supplemented by €1.9 million in potential add-ons. Notably, the agreement also includes a buy option set at €49.5 million. These financial terms have generated confusion among some Turin supporters, particularly considering Alcaraz’s transfer from the English second division.
Despite his promising potential, Alcaraz has struggled to make a significant impact at Juventus since his arrival. His involvement has been limited to just five appearances for the first team, totaling a mere 176 minutes on the field. Although he managed to contribute an assist against Napoli, his progress has been impeded by a hamstring injury, which has sidelined him for the past three matches.
Alcaraz strategy
An article in today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, located on page 14, elucidates Juventus’ stance regarding the activation of the €49.5 million buy option associated with Alcaraz’s loan. It is revealed that Juventus currently harbors no intention of exercising this buy option. Nevertheless, the club remains receptive to negotiating a new agreement with Southampton. The proposed course of action entails renewing the loan arrangement for an additional season.
Furthermore, the outcome of the next nine or 10 matches will significantly influence future decisions concerning the 21-year-old Argentine player. Alcaraz has expressed his desire to continue with the team and acknowledged in February that persuading Juventus to retain him would be challenging but not unattainable.