By Andrea Caropreso
Index
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The Juventus led by Comolli faces a tough challenge: building a competitive squad capable of winning while keeping financial balance in mind. That’s why the transfer campaign driven by the French director is focused on offloading players deemed outside of the project, whose gross salaries weigh around €50 million per year on the club’s finances — valuable money that Juventus aims to reinvest in players more suited to the coach’s tactical vision.
The Cost of Surplus Players
While Juventus has already signed players like Jonathan David and made several loans permanent (Conceição, Kalulu, Kelly, Gonzalez), the club must deal with the high costs of its surplus players — Vlahović above all. The Serbian striker was one of the club’s most expensive signings in recent years, but his performances haven’t always met expectations. However, his financial impact has been severe: the transfer cost was €100 million (including bonuses), and his rising wages over the years have amounted to about €67 million gross.
If Vlahović at least contributed on the pitch, others haven’t worn the Juventus shirt in over three years — like Arthur. The Brazilian was highly overvalued in a 2020 swap deal with Barcelona for Pjanić, with a total valuation of €72 million. Between transfer fee and wages (just under €30 million), Arthur has cost Juventus nearly €100 million. His current gross salary is €6.5 million — money that adds to the burden of other surplus players. From Weah to Djalo, and Kostić to Douglas Luiz, Juventus has one clear objective: cut costs.
| Player | Gross Salary (€/year) |
|---|---|
| Vlahović | €22,000,000 |
| Douglas Luiz | €10,000,000 |
| Arthur | €6,000,000 |
| Djalo | €3,700,000 |
| Kostić | €3,275,000 |
| Milik | €3,000,000 |
| Weah | €2,600,000 |
The total gross cost for these surplus players exceeds €100 million — no small matter.
Selling Without Underselling
The financial framework calls for a clear strategy: sell high-salary, low-usage players. Reducing the gross wage bill would create salary room and flexibility to bring in a new striker, a midfielder, a right winger, and a defender.
For instance, the departure of either Vlahović or Douglas Luiz — via a permanent transfer or a loan with guaranteed income in a year — would significantly ease salary pressure. Only by turning wage burdens into market opportunities can Juventus ensure financial sustainability and a competitive sporting revival.
