Spalletti approves Kessie as Juventus and Atalanta pursue former Milan midfielder
Quick summary
Juventus and Atalanta are both interested in signing Franck Kessie, currently at Al-Ahli, with reported approval from prospective Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFranck Kessie has been offered to both Juventus and Atalanta as the Ivorian midfielder seeks a return to Serie A following three seasons at Al-Ahli, with Juventus considered the frontrunners after Luciano Spalletti expressed his approval of the player following his impressive World Cup displays with Ivory Coast.
According to Tuttosport, via CalcioMercato, Kessie’s agents have made direct approaches to both clubs, with Juventus having tracked the midfielder for several months.
His performances in the tournament, including a goal against Germany, have reminded Italian football of a player who remains in excellent physical condition despite his time in Saudi Arabia.
Available on a free transfer, Kessie is seeking wages of between €4 and €5 million per season, significantly below the approximately €14 million he earned at Al-Ahli.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 18: Franck Kessie of Al Ahli controls the ball during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ahli and Al Fayha at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on April 18, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) Atalanta also interested in Kessie but wage demands present smaller hurdle for Juventus The move to Juventus is contingent on squad departures, with Carnevali needing to trim the midfield before space can be created for Kessie.
Atalanta are also monitoring the situation, Maurizio Sarri is a known admirer and the departure of Yunus Musah has left a gap in their midfield, but the financial demands of the operation represent a more significant hurdle for the Bergamo club than for Juventus.
As a free agent combining experience, physicality, leadership and goalscoring runs from deep, Kessie is considered one of the most attractive available midfielders on the market this summer.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Franck Kessie, the former AC Milan and Barcelona midfielder now at Saudi side Al-Ahli, is drawing concrete interest from Serie A clubs Juventus and Atalanta. According to reports, Luciano Spalletti, who is strongly tipped to take the Juventus managerial role, is an admirer of the Ivorian and would sanction a move. Atalanta are also monitoring the situation and could move for Kessie as a midfield reinforcement. The 28-year-old's contract and valuation at Al-Ahli will be key factors in determining whether a Serie A return materializes.
Chance analysis
Kessie returning to Serie A would be a modest but interesting market move. His peak form at Milan (2017-2022) made him one of the league's most physical and box-crashing midfielders, though his spell at Barcelona and subsequent move to Saudi Arabia saw reduced prominence. If Spalletti takes over at Juventus, his approval of Kessie signals a preference for athletic, defensively robust midfield profiles. For Atalanta, Kessie would add experience and physicality but is unlikely to be a transformative signing. Neither club is likely to be in a desperate state for his profile, making this a speculative pursuit rather than an urgent need.
Potential midfield reinforcement for Juventus and/or Atalanta, with limited immediate match impact given Kessie's recent lack of top-level playing time.
Monitor Kessie transfer developments as they could affect Juventus and Atalanta midfield depth and rotation options for upcoming Serie A fixtures.