Juventus reject £66m transfer bid for Matthijs de Ligt by Barcelona with star and girlfriend finally settled in Turin

JUVENTUS have reportedly rejected a £66million bid from Barcelona for Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutchman has been a long-term target for the La Liga giants. They were pipped to his signature last summer when the defender opted to move to Turin instead of the Nou Camp from Ajax last summer. Now they have re-ignited their […]

JUVENTUS have reportedly rejected a £66million bid from Barcelona for Matthijs de Ligt.

The Dutchman has been a long-term target for the La Liga giants.

AFP

They were pipped to his signature last summer when the defender opted to move to Turin instead of the Nou Camp from Ajax last summer.

Now they have re-ignited their interest by tabling an offer for the 20-year-old, according to the Daily Mail.

However, Juventus have rebuffed their advances with the youngster firmly settled in Italy with his girlfriend Anneke Molenaar.

De Ligt has endured a difficult start in Serie A but is growing more accustomed to life with each passing week.

And since the arrival of his partner he has now taken to the country “with ease”, claims today’s report.

It also states the player’s “happiness is viewed as crucial” to Juve when deciding whether to let him leave.

La Vecchia Signora have also used the Italian Growth Decree scheme – devised to allow clubs to buy overseas players with significant tax breaks if they stay for at least 24 months.

Therefore it makes financial sense for him to remain with Juventus if he is happy to do so.

De Ligt and fellow young defender defender Merih Demiral, 22, are considered to be stars of the future by the Italian champions.

The duo are viewed as the perfect successors to veteran pairing Leonardo Bonucci and Georgio Chiellini, who have both been the defensive foundation for the majority of the past decade.

Juventus’ chief football officer Fabio Paratici also views De Ligt as a long-term project.

He usurped Barcelona last year by moving early for the star and he has no interest in cashing in on him despite his early poor form.

The Holland international has appeared 27 times so far for his club this campaign to help them into top spot before the coronavirus outbreak curtailed the season.