Juventus Staving Off Manchester United to Key Defender

Juventus have taken care of more than a few contract extensions in the last couple of months, and Pierre Kalulu is next on the agenda, even though he’s already tied to them for a few more years, until 2029, TuttoSport informs.

The defender inked a long-term deal after he was bought out from Milan following an initial loan spell. However, his salary is low relative to the level of his performance and overall contribution. He’s on his way to being their most utilized player this season.

Kalulu currently makes €2.5M per year, which is well below other Juventus players who have recently penned a renewal, such as Manuel Locatelli and Weston McKennie. The Bianconeri are also wary of the interest from other sides, for instance, Manchester United, and wish to quell any doubts about the future of the Frenchman.

The Red Devils sent scouts to Turin a couple of times in recent months. His valuation amounts to €30/35M, but the Old Lady fully plots to keep him. They paid €14M, plus €3M add-ons, to sign him from Milan. He has already totaled 88 appearances, scoring 3 goals and providing 8 assists. He recently earned his way back into the French national team, logging his third cap.

Our Take on Juventus and Kalulu

He and Weston McKennie are key to their tactical flexibility, and he’s been outstanding in both phases. He’s still pretty young, even though he’s been around the block for a while. The outside interest is normal and likely strategically spread by his camp to nudge the hierarchy toward a new deal, but there’s little doubt or concern about his permanence.