Serie A champions Juventus are reportedly considering an ambitious move to sign Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta once his contract expires in 2018.
Spanish newspaper AS (h/t Calciomercato.com) have reported that the Italian giants and current Serie A leaders will consider making a swoop for Andres Iniesta if La Liga champions Barcelona decide not to offer a contract extension to the Spanish midfielder.
The report states that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is currently unsure on whether or not he wants to put a renewal offer on Iniesta’s table, and could decide to not extend his contract with the club once his current deal expires in the summer of 2018.
If that were to be the case, Juventus see themselves in the pole position to sign the veteran Spanish midfielder. The report also stated that the potential offer from Juventus could be similar to the one they signed iconic Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo on.
Pirlo moved to the record 32-time Italian champions from AC Milan as a free agent when it was deemed that his best days were behind him. However, Pirlo silenced his doubters by playing a key role as the Bianconeri won four league titles and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in the 2014/15 season before departing for the MLS in 2015.
If Juventus do manage to land Iniesta in 2018, it would represent a coup of similar sorts as despite his advanced years Iniesta continues to turn in impactful performances for by dictating play for both Barcelona and Spain from the centre of the park.
Iniesta has been a legendary figure at Barcelona, and having graduated from the club’s famed La Masia academy the Spain international has played for the Blaugrana throughout his playing career. He has been a constant for the first team through the last decade.
Having been an ever present throughout Barcelona’s most successful period, he has won eight La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles and seventeen other cup competitions with the club. And with just 18 months left on his current contract, it will be interesting to see whether a potentially infamous departure from Camp Nou does happen in 2018.
