Transfer Rumors: Lionel Messi’s $125M Teammate Could Join Ronaldo At Juventus For Free

FC Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele reportedly could move to Juventus on a free transfer during the 2022 summer window.

Juventus, who could not sign Dembele last summer because of the financial crisis infused by the pandemic, are still interested in the Frenchman and are monitoring his contract situation at Camp Nou, Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo reported.

Dembele's current deal with Barcelona is due to expire in 2022 and his recent interview has further boosted Juventus’ chances of acquiring the player. Dembele has said that no talks of a new deal are currently underway with Barcelona.

"I still have one year left on my contract. There have been no talks with the new board yet, but I’m happy and feel good. I don’t know the new President, but he is very close to the players. We’ll see how it goes. I have been feeling good since I got back," Dembele was quoted by Football Italia, as saying, in an interview.

If Dembele does make the sensational move from Lionel Messi-led Barcelona to Juventus, he would become only the 17th soccer player to be teammates with both the legends of the sport – Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, even Ronaldo’s current deal at Juventus is due to expire in the summer of 2022. Dembele will be able to play alongside Ronaldo in Turin only if Juventus offer the Portuguese great an extension.

It was earlier reported that Barcelona were close to off-loading Dembele last summer but at the last minute, the French forward refused to leave Camp Nou and join Manchester United. The Catalans had shortlisted a few players to sell ahead of the 2020-21 campaign in order to buy a few target players. Since Dembele did not leave, financially struggling Barcelona could not land one of Ronald Koeman’s targets Memphis Depay from Lyon.

Barcelona paid a hefty amount of $125 million to sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in the 2017 summer, as a replacement for Neymar, who had decided to part ways with the Camp Nou side to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). However, Barcelona had only regretted signing Dembele the last three seasons, mainly because of injuries and poor attitude on and off the field.

However, the 23-year-old has turned tables around this season. In 37 competitive appearances in the ongoing campaign, Dembele has been involved in 14 goals (4 assists and 10 goals). He is being considered one of the reasons Barcelona are still in the title race in Spain.