FIFA agent Ernesto Bronzetti has confirmed that Gonzalo Higuain was close to a move from Real Madrid to Juventus, but for the cost involved.
The Argentine striker was strongly linked with a move to the Bianconeri at one stage of last summer, before eventually completing a €37m deal to join Napoli.
However, for Madrid’s usual intermediary in dealing with Italian clubs, the striker could have been lining up against Los Blancos this Wednesday night in Juve colours, but for the financial demands Florentino Perez placed on the 25-year-old’s exit.
“Juventus were seriously interested in taking Higuain,” Bronzetti has commented in today’s edition of Tuttosport.
“I remember after the game between the two clubs’ formers stars, we sat down and had a drink together.
“Juve director Beppe Marotta and President Andrea Agnelli told Real chief Florentino Perez that €35m for Higuain was too much.
“He responded by telling them that someone would pay that by the time the transfer window closed, given that there were few strikers like him around. And that was what happened.
“Juventus wouldn’t go over €22m, €23m, but Florentino knows the market well and he understood the value of Higuain.
“He was, nevertheless, disappointed because he would have wanted to give him to Juventus. He’s a romantic, but money…”
