Juventus want him badly, Brahim Diaz shuts the door

Juventus' biggest disappointment of the summer transfer window has come from one of the club's most coveted targets. According to Fabrizio Romano, head coach Luciano Spalletti has repeatedly pushed Brahim Diaz's name in every meeting with management since the window opened, only for the Real Madrid player to make clear his answer is a firm "no" to a move to Turin.

Per Romano, Spalletti relayed the same request first to former CEO Damien Comolli and then to his successor Giovanni Carnevali: "I want Brahim Diaz, let's try for Brahim Diaz, let's push for Brahim Diaz." The Italian coach sees the Moroccan as the ideal profile to break up opposition lines in attack and add greater quality and unpredictability to the team. Brahim Diaz, however, made his intentions clear immediately after a match with the Morocco national team: "I can't wait to get back to Madrid, I want to work with Mourinho."

The player's firm stance has largely undone months of effort from Juventus. With any split from Real Madrid essentially off the table, Brahim's strong performances for the Moroccan national team have only added to his confidence. He believes he can carve out a significant role under Mourinho next season, and has therefore taken the idea of a move to Turin completely off the table for now.

Juventus, for their part, remain on alert. The club is aware that the transfer market can shift quickly over the course of the summer and continues to monitor developments closely in case Brahim's stance softens. But without any opening from the player himself, the odds of Spalletti landing his prized target appear extremely slim.

Source: Fabrizio Romano

Image: BBC Sports