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EXCLUSIVE: Which player Juventus will be scouting during Portugal-Iceland
Juventus are still keeping a close eye on Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes, but CM.com pundit Nicola Balice has exclusively learned that Paratici will be also scouting his Portugal teammate Joao Mario.
The 23-year-old midfielder plays for Sporting Lisbon and his extreme versatility made him a player that Massimiliano Allegri would be very happy to coach next season.
Joao Mario was deployed as both halfback and centre midfielder at the beginning of his career at Sporting Lisbon, though the Portuguese side’s boss Jorge Jesus played him right winger in many games of the 2015-16 campaign.
Juventus are not the only club interested in signing the player. Inter and Manchester United have also been previously linked with welcoming the player’s services. The player extended his contract with the club last season (€ 600.000 a year until 2020), but would like to discuss a further extension and pay rise this summer.
Sporting Lisbon are considering to offer a one-year-extension and a salary in the region of € 1 million a year and the player’s release clause would be increased from € 60 million to € 70 million.
Should Joao Mario accept the offer of his club, big European clubs might be forced to postpone their assault on the player to next season, but if the Portugal International won’t extend his stay in Portugal, Sporting Lisbon would fix the auction price € 25 million.
Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto, adapted from an article by Nicola Balice @NicolaBalice
