Luka Jovic, for whom Real Madrid paid a staggering 60 million euros in 2019 to Eintracht Frankfurt, has left the club to join side AFC Fiorentina on a free transfer. Los Blancos agreed to rescind the Serbian striker’s contract in exchange for 50 per cent of his future selling rights, meaning that La Viola would be liable to pay the Spanish giants half of what they make when they sell the striker later or buy the remaining rights on a future date.
The Italian side explored the possibility of a loan deal initially. Failing that, the club agreed to take on Jovic’s entire salary on a two-year contract with the option to extend it by two more years if they so desire.
The Serbian flew to Florence to undergo medical tests before penning down his new contract. He becomes Fiorentina’s second signing of the summer, following midfielder Rolando Mandragora and will be joined by former Tottenham loanee Pierluigi Gollini in the immediate future.
Jovic’s Real Madrid stint makes up for a miserable read. The forward, who played second fiddle to Karim Benzema throughout his time in Madrid, made 51 appearances and scored thrice in two-and-a-half years at the club.
Meanwhile, another former Real Madrid player Angel di Maria has signed a one-year contract with Juventus to become their first summer signing. The Argentine left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his deal in June after seven years with the club, during which he amassed a total of 295 appearances and scored 92 goals. The 34-year-old winger will wear the number 22 for his year in Italy.
Di Maria will to be joined by the former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba at Juve after the club confirmed his arrival in Turin on Friday evening. The Frenchman left United at the expiration of his contract earlier in the summer and will sign a long-term deal with the Old Lady.
