Juventus Wiretap

United States midfielder Weston McKennie is close to signing a contract extension with Juventus through 2030, according to ESPN sources. The deal would keep the 27-year-old in Turin beyond his current agreement, which expires at the end of this season.

Clubs from Italy, Spain, England and the United States had been tracking McKennie's availability, sources told ESPN. Despite the outside attention, McKennie is determined to remain with the Serie A club.

McKennie has become a central figure under manager Luciano Spalletti, who took charge in October. His versatility has proven valuable, with appearances at fullback, wing, central midfield and as an emergency forward against Galatasaray.

The Texas native joined Juventus in 2021 and spent a brief loan spell at Leeds United in 2023. His future at the club was uncertain earlier this season under previous manager Igor Tudor, but his standing shifted considerably once Spalletti arrived.

McKennie now ranks among the first names in Spalletti's starting lineup. He has earned 62 caps for the U.S. men's national team and is expected to play a prominent role in the USMNT's home World Cup campaign this summer.

According to TransferMarkt, McKennie has a valuation of €22 million which ranks sixth amongst USMNT players behind Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Chris Richards.

Juventus owners publicly rejected a €1 billion ($1.2 billion) buyout offer from cryptocurrency firm Tether on Saturday, ensuring the record 36-time Italian champions remain under Agnelli family control. John Elkann, chief executive of Exor, the family's holding company, announced the decision in a video message posted on Juventus' website.

Tether, the El Salvador-based cryptocurrency firm, made the offer for the Agnelli family's majority shares in the Serie A club. The bid represented one of the largest proposed takeovers in Italian football history.

"Juventus, our history and our values are not for sale," Elkann said. "Juve has been part of my family for 102 years."

Elkann, grandson of Fiat tycoon Giovanni "Gianni" Agnelli, emphasized the family's century-long stewardship of the Turin club. Four generations of the Agnelli family have controlled Juventus through successful periods and challenging times.

Exor issued a formal statement reaffirming it has no intention of selling shares to any third party. The holding company described Juventus as a "storied and successful club" and pledged continued support for the new management team.

Juventus have not won Serie A since capturing nine consecutive titles between 2012 and 2020. The club fired Igor Tudor and appointed Luciano Spalletti as manager last month following a difficult start to the season.

"It's a pleasure once again to feel the strength and passion of John Elkann and his family for this club," Spalletti said during a news conference ahead of Sunday's match at Bologna.

Juventus and Napoli, owned by Italian film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis, are the main Italian-controlled clubs among Serie A's elite. AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Roma are owned by foreign investment firms.

Former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli and the club's entire board resigned in 2022 amid a false accounting inquiry.

Luciano Spalletti has been hired by Juventus as manager on a contract for the remainder of the season with an option to extend if the club qualifies for the Champions League.

Spalletti takes over for Igor Tudor, who was fired on Monday. Juventus is currently eighth in Serie A.

Spalletti is out of work after being sacked as Italy head coach in June. Spalletti has had to stints with Udinese and Roma, as well as tenures with Napoli, Inter Milan, Ancona, Venezia, Sampdoria and Empoli. 

Igor Tudor has been fired as manager of Juventus after just seven months in the job. Juventus has lost three straight matches and haven't won in eight.

Juventus lost on Sunday 1-0 to Lazio before the decision was announced.

Massimo Brambilla, coach of Juventus Next Gen in Serie C, will take over on an interim basis this week.

Tudor was hired in March to replace Thiago Motta and initially given a temporary contract.

Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus have expressed interest in Raheem Sterling of Chelsea, who spent last season on loan with Arsenal. Sterling has two seasons remaining on his contract and Chelsea have set a valuation of $27 million.

Sterling has been training at Cobham since last week after being omitted from the Chelsea squad that won the Club World Cup in the United States.

Enzo Maresca indicated last season that Sterling didn't have a place in his squad before his loan to Arsenal. Sterling had two assists and no goals in 17 Premier League appearances for Arsenal.

Marseille are in discussions with Juventus for United States forward Timothy Weah, with the 25-year-old keen on joining the French club. Sources told ESPN that personal terms are expected to be agreed soon between the player and Marseille.

Juventus are asking between €15 million and €20 million for Weah, who has a contract until June 2028 in Turin. The versatile forward is attracted to the prospect of playing for a club where his father George also played in 2000.

Marseille Optimistic About Deal

Marseille consider the asking price affordable and will make an offer soon. There is optimism that a deal can be struck between the clubs for the USMNT international.

Weah has made 78 appearances and scored seven goals in two seasons with Juventus. The Italian club signed him from Lille for €11 million in summer 2023 following his successful stint in France.

The forward rejected a move to Nottingham Forest last month despite the clubs agreeing a €22 million deal. Weah chose against the Premier League switch, preferring a return to French football instead.

Family Connection to French Football

Weah began his career at Paris Saint-Germain's academy before making his professional debut in 2014. He later established himself at Lille with 107 appearances and eight goals before joining Juventus.

The 44-cap USMNT international has scored seven goals for his country. Sources indicate Juventus are keen to offload Weah to make room for new signings, as he has not matched the success of fellow American teammate Weston McKennie in Turin.

Real Madrid has claimed the top spot as the world's most valuable soccer club at $6.53 billion, surpassing Manchester United ($6.09 billion) in Sportico's 2025 rankings. Los Blancos became the first soccer club in history to generate €1 billion in operating revenue during a season, bolstered by their Champions League victory and completed Bernabeu Stadium renovation.

The Spanish giants' matchday revenue doubled to $346 million, twice as much as any competitor. Personal seat licenses contributed $82 million to this total, according to Sportico's analysis.

Real Madrid's commercial revenue from sponsorships and merchandise also jumped 23 percent to $439 million. A new sleeve sponsorship deal with tech giant HP helped drive this growth.

Premier League Dominance Continues Despite United's Struggles

Manchester United's value dipped two percent amid ongoing struggles both on and off the pitch. The club currently sits 15th in the Premier League and has announced significant staff layoffs following Jim Ratcliffe's $1.6 billion investment for a 27.7% stake.

The Premier League remains soccer's financial powerhouse with 14 clubs in the top 50, up from nine last year. Television rights have been the primary driver, with international broadcast deals now exceeding domestic ones for the first time.

Current Premier League broadcast agreements average £3.5 billion annually ($4.6 billion), with international rights worth more than those of the other four major European leagues combined. Even relegation-bound clubs receive substantial distributions, with last season's bottom finisher Sheffield United earning $138 million.

MLS Growth and European Financial Challenges

While European clubs dominate the top of the rankings, MLS heavily populates the lower portion with 19 entries. Los Angeles FC leads MLS clubs at 16th position with a $1.28 billion valuation.

"You'll find LaLiga, Premier League, PSG and Bayern shirts and branding in every corner of the world, and few industries can match football's combination of reach and soft power," said Alexander Jarvis, whose Blackbridge Sports LLC advisory firm specializes in soccer club acquisitions.

European soccer's financial model remains problematic despite rising valuations. Five of the top 15 clubs posted operating losses exceeding $60 million over their past two seasons, with PSG losing $60 million in 2023-24 alone.

"The absence of effective cost controls on player salaries significantly undermines the financial sustainability of these clubs," Jarvis added.

The valuation gap between soccer and other major sports leagues persists. Only Real Madrid and Manchester United rank among the top 20 most valuable sports franchises globally, a list dominated by NFL teams with their strict salary caps and lucrative television contracts.

The minimum valuation required to make Sportico's top 50 soccer clubs has risen to $610 million, a 16 percent increase over two years. However, this growth lags significantly behind the NFL (66%), NBA (88%), and NHL (143%) over the same period.

50 Most Valuable Soccer Clubs (2025)

1. Real Madrid: $6.53 billion
2. Manchester United: $6.09 billion
3. FC Barcelona: $5.71 billion
4. Liverpool: $5.59 billion
5. Bayern Munich: $5.21 billion
6. Manchester City: $5.16 billion
7. Arsenal: $4.49 billion
8. Paris Saint-Germain :$4.26 billion
9. Tottenham Hotspur: $3.68 billion
10. Chelsea: $3.57 billion
11. Atletico de Madrid: $1.85 billion
12. Borussia Dortmund: $1.83 billion
13. Juventus: $1.81 billion
14. AC Milan: $1.34 billion
15. Inter Milan: $1.3 billion
16. Los Angeles FC: $1.28 billion
17. Inter Miami: $1.19 billion
18. LA Galaxy: $1.11 billion
19. Atlanta United: $1.08 billion
20. New York City FC: $1 billion
21. West Ham United: $940 million
22. Newcastle United: $930 million
23. Austin FC: $865 million
24. Aston Villa: $850 million
25. Seattle Sounders: $825 million
26. Everton: $825 million
27. Napoli: $775 million
28. America: $770 million
29. Olympique Lyonnais: $750 million
30. AS Roma: $750 million
31. Brighton & Hove: $745 million
32. Guadalajara: $730 million
33. Columbus Crew: $730 million
34. Toronto FC: $725 million
35. FC Cincinnati: $725 million
36. D.C. United: $720 million
37. Portland Timbers: $720 million
38. AFC Ajax: $710 million
39. Charlotte FC: $705 million
40. Philadelphia Union: $700 million
41. SL Benfica: $675 million
42. St. Louis City SC: $655 million
43. Minnesota United: $655 million
44. Sporting Kansas City: $650 million
45. New York Red Bulls: $645 million
46. Nashville SC: $640 million
47. Eintracht Frankfurt: $640 million
48. AFC Bournemouth: $630 million
49. Brentford: $615 million
50. Crystal Palace: $610 million

Victor Osimhen is targeting a move to the Premier League or Juventus once his loan at Galatasaray concludes this summer, sources have told ESPN.

The 26-year-old Nigerian striker, who has scored 28 goals in 32 appearances during his loan stint in Turkey, is expected to leave Napoli permanently. According to ESPN sources, no option exists in the current agreement for Galatasaray to retain Osimhen beyond this season.

Napoli has set Osimhen's transfer fee at €65 million ($71 million). The forward maintained an impressive scoring record during his four years with the Italian club, averaging better than a goal every two games before his temporary move to Turkey.

Several Premier League clubs seeking striking reinforcements have shown interest in Osimhen, including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. While Chelsea has previously been linked with the Nigerian international, he reportedly features on United's summer transfer shortlist.

However, ESPN sources indicate Osimhen's salary demands could prove prohibitive for some suitors. The striker is expected to seek approximately €11 million annually after tax, which has affected his position in Manchester United's transfer priorities as the club aims to reduce its wage bill.

United is now prioritizing Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, who could be available for around £40 million if Ipswich face relegation. The 22-year-old Delap would command significantly lower wages than Osimhen.

Other high-profile strikers potentially available this summer include Sporting CP's Viktor Gyökeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly monitoring these options as well.

Juventus has fired Thiago Motta as manager and appointed Igor Tudor as his replacement. Juventus are currently fifth in the Serie A standings. Juventus were beaten 3-0 at Fiorentina on March 16 following an embarrassing 4-0 loss at home to Atalanta on March 9.

"Juventus FC announces that it has relieved Thiago Motta of his position as coach of the men's first team," a club statement said. "Juventus also announces that it has entrusted the leadership of the Men's First Team to Igor Tudor who will direct the first training session tomorrow."

Tudor spent the majority of his playing career with Juventus and was an assistant under Andrea Pirlo in 2020 for one season. Tudor has managed Udinese, Hellas Verona and Lazio. 

Juventus have signed Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain on a loan until the end of the season. Tottenham also had interest in Muani, but he preferred a deal to Juventus. 

Muani had an underwhelming tenure with PSG after signing for $102.6 million in 2023 from Eintracht Frankfurt. Muani had just 11 goals in 54 appearances and fell out of favor with Luis Enrique.