Kessié Sees Only Juventus, Reassures Massara: "I Gave You My Word"

Franck Kessié appears to be on the verge of joining Juventus on a free transfer, reportedly ready to make considerable sacrifices to facilitate the move. His assurance to Ricky Massara and Luciano Spalletti, "I gave you my word," is said to be providing Juventus with a sense of relief. Amidst a busy transfer window, the Bianconeri are looking to strengthen their midfield with a player possessing both quality and leadership – characteristics that perfectly describe the Ivorian. Having become a free agent after his spell in Saudi Arabia, Kessié is eager to return to Serie A.

Kessié's Sole Focus on Juventus

According to Tuttosport, Kessié has been in talks with Juventus since the time of Comolli, specifically since late May. The change in club management has seemingly only deepened his connection with Juventus, explaining the nearly three months of waiting from a player willing to make a substantial sacrifice to join the Bianconeri squad. He is reportedly prepared to accept a two-year contract, with an optional third year dependent on certain conditions, and is seriously considering accepting a significantly lower signing bonus than he previously demanded.

Furthermore, he has reportedly put AS Roma's interest on hold, as he is focused on finalizing a deal with a club he pledged allegiance to at the beginning of the summer. On Juventus's side, the club is navigating settlement agreements with UEFA and is working to offload high salaries to accommodate Kessié, who is expected to earn approximately €4.5 million plus substantial bonuses. Until recently, securing this transfer would have required the departure of at least one player, such as Jonathan David or Teun Koopmeiners.

Kessié was made aware of this situation and has expressed his willingness to wait until the end of the transfer window, benefiting from his free agent status which would allow him to sign even after September 1st. Both Juventus and the Ivorian international are aiming to conclude the deal by the weekend. The club has decided to proceed without the guaranteed sale of any players being moved on.