Juventus miss out on Witsel

By Football Italia staff

Juventus are reportedly furious with Zenit after they waited to the last second for Axel Witsel, so they’ll get him for free next summer.

The deal was done between the clubs for €18m plus €3m bonuses and he flew in last night for a medical.

Witsel waited in a Turin hotel all day for the ratification, but the all-clear never came from Zenit.

Sky Sport Italia even suggest Witsel was sitting and waiting for 13 hours, but the all-clear never came.

It’s reported Coach Mircea Lucescu would not let the Belgium international leave until they had a suitable replacement.

The plan was to get Andreas Samaris from Benfica, but that failed to go through in time.

When Zenit did finally agree to let Witsel go anyway, it was too late to complete the paperwork and the transfer window in Serie A has already shut.

As a domino effect, Juventus also kept hold of Hernanes, who had been on his way to Genoa.

Witsel will be out of contract in June 2017, so Juventus can delay until January to agree terms and pick him up as a free agent next summer.

Sky Sport Italia are also suggesting Juve could attempt another approach in January for a minimal sum, around €5m.

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