Juventus still have Vlahovic hope, but Serbia fitness coach drops Barcelona hint

Juventus director Marco Ottolini reveals the Bianconeri still hope to extend Dusan Vlahovic’s contract, but the Serbia national team fitness coach predicts the striker will join Barcelona.

Juventus striker Vlahovic has less than six months left in his contract at the Allianz Stadium.

Talks between the two parties have been stalling for several months, given that Vlahovic is reportedly unwilling to cut his €12m salary.

Juventus set to continue Vlahovic contract talks

Vlahovic has been unavailable since December and is expected to return to action next month.

Despite his injury and uncertain future at Juventus, Vlahovic still seems quite involved in the team, as his celebration of Pierre Kalulu’s late equaliser against Lazio suggested.

“It’s something we have considered too,” Juventus sporting director Marco Ottolini told Sky Sport Italia.

“Vlahovic will be available again in a few weeks, and we’ll surely talk to him. Negotiations will continue, so it’s not a completely closed matter.”

Vlahovic, however, has attracted interest from several clubs, including Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Dusan Ilic, the fitness coach of the Serbian national predicted that the Juventus forward will move to Spain in the summer.

“For me, he’ll go to Barcelona,” Ilic told Tuttosport.

“Before joining Juventus, he had held talks with Atletico Madrid, but then picked the Bianconeri. It was impossible to refuse that offer.”

Vlahovic underwent surgery in December due to a high-grade adductor injury.

“The injury hit a very specific part that takes longer to heal,” continued Ilic.

“Naturally, the recovery is longer, but given the doctors and the specialists he has at his disposal, I can say we’ll see him return soon.”