In January, Juventus surprised everyone by signing Carlos Alcaraz on a paid loan from Southampton.
The move seems to come out of thin air, but Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday provided some context.
According to reports, Cristiano Giuntoli, Juventus’ director of football, made the move for the Southampton midfielder after joining the club last summer.
He had previously been in charge of transfers at Napoli, and Gazzetta reports that the Serie A champions ‘had sought him out in the past’.
Unable to get him at the time, the director ‘didn’t stop following him’ and’managed to get him’ to Italy from Southampton in January.
It is unclear if Giuntoli wanted him at Napoli while he was still at Racing Club or after his move to St Mary’s, but it does provide insight into how and by whom this move was made.
Ironically, he may make his first full start for Juventus against Napoli.
Since joining the Serie A club from Southampton, the Argentine has come off the bench three times, but injuries to Weston McKennie and Adrien Rabiot mean Max Allegri will turn to him for the important game this weekend.
