Franck Kessie’s Juventus switch in doubt as contract talks reach stalemate

Franck Kessie’s proposed return to Serie A has suffered a major setback, with the former Barcelona midfielder currently unwilling to accept the terms offered by Juventus.

The Cote d’Ivoire captain has been a free agent since leaving Al-Ahli at the end of his contract. However, the Italian club now considers negotiations to be blocked and on hold, according to the latest reports from Italy.

The main disagreement is understood to concern the structure of the proposed contract. Juventus and Kessie have not been able to reach an agreement over a third year, including the conditions required for that season to be activated and the salary that would apply during the final year.

As a result, Juventus do not intend to take the discussions further for now. The club could reconsider that position if Kessie changes his stance in the coming days, but there is currently no immediate expectation of progress.

A move back to Italy had appeared to be a logical option for the 29-year-old. Kessie is already familiar with Serie A after beginning his Italian career at Atalanta before establishing himself at AC Milan.

It was at AC Milan that the midfielder reached the peak of his European career. His strength, versatility and experience in central midfield made him an important player for the club, while he also developed into one of the leading figures in the Cote d’Ivoire national team.

Kessie’s time at Barcelona followed his spell with AC Milan, before he moved to Al-Ahli. He is now assessing his next step as a free agent and is believed to want firm contractual and financial guarantees before committing to a new club.

At present, Juventus are not thought to be meeting all of his expectations. That has left the midfielder’s future unresolved, with the possibility of a move to Turin dependent on one of the two sides changing its position.

Juventus have not completely ruled out reopening negotiations, but the club is not prepared to make further progress under the current terms. Kessie, meanwhile, must decide whether to compromise on the proposed agreement or consider alternatives elsewhere.

His availability is likely to attract interest because of his status as an experienced free agent and an established international leader. He offers physical power in midfield, can operate in more than one role and remains an important figure for the Elephants.

The transfer window situation also gives Kessie some room for manoeuvre. Several markets remain open at this stage of the transfer period, meaning he is not limited to a move to Juventus or to an immediate decision.

Unless talks with the Turin club are revived, the Cote d’Ivoire captain will have to examine other destinations. For now, a return to Serie A remains possible, but the proposed Juventus move is in serious doubt.