There are doubts about whether Francisco Conceicao will be bought permanently by Juventus, which has alerted AC Milan and Roma.
According to Tuttosport (via Goal), the next two games will be decisive both for Juventus and for Conceicao’s fate. The young Portuguese winger – who returned to regular training with the group yesterday – could start against Bologna, where Kenan Yildiz will be missing due to suspension.
The absence of Teun Koopmeiners means there are less attacking solutions available to Igor Tudor than usual, in a game that is the proverbial ‘six-pointer’ given both sides are in the race for the Champions League places.
A decision to make
Conceicao, after some tough months spent on the sidelines, could get a chance to show he is worth keeping. With UCL qualification, the €30m option that Juventus have – which can be activated by July 15 – becomes much easier to afford.
Meanwhile, Milan and Roma are watching closely. The paper adds that both have shown interest in the 22-year-old talent, who has already decided he will not stay at Porto if the Bianconeri do not use their option to buy him.
This is a make-or-break moment for Conceicao. After a brilliant start to the season, the winger has gradually dropped out of the rotation, above all due to the change of coach (Thiago Motta out, Tudor in) and formation.
With the arrival of Tudor and the switch to 3-4-2-1, his characteristics were difficult to integrate into the new playing system. But the need to replace Yildiz boosts his stock, in view of the two matches against Bologna and Lazio which are huge in the race for the Champions League.
Juventus have already paid €7m plus €3m in bonuses for the loan of the Portuguese forward, and must be convinced to make an overall investment of €40m to keep him. Milan – now coached by his father Sergio – are an ‘intriguing possibility’, where he might replace Samuel Chukwueze.
