Following the conclusion of his loan spell at Atletico Madrid, Nico Gonzalez remains a Juventus player as the Spanish club did not activate the purchase option in his contract. However, Italian media reports indicate that the Argentine forward has no desire to rejoin Juventus for the 2026-27 season.
Nico Gonzalez Reportedly Unwilling to Return to Juventus
Nico Gonzalez initially joined Juventus on loan from Fiorentina in the summer of 2024, with a conditional obligation to buy. The initial agreement involved Juventus paying €33 million for the loan and transfer, potentially rising by another €8.1 million with bonuses and additional fees.
After just one season in Turin, Gonzalez was loaned out to Atletico Madrid, also with a conditional purchase obligation. This obligation was contingent on a minimum number of La Liga appearances, which Gonzalez ultimately did not meet.
As a result, Atletico Madrid is no longer obligated to pay the €32 million buyout fee agreed upon last summer. Despite this, recent reports suggest that Atletico is still interested in keeping the winger. The sticking point is Atletico’s reluctance to meet the €32 million valuation, with their current offer reportedly capped at €24-€25 million, including bonuses, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
This valuation has not been sufficient to prompt Juventus into agreeing to a sale, and negotiations have reportedly been on hold for several days.
Gonzalez’s position is reportedly firm: he is unwilling to return to Juventus for the 2026-27 season and would prefer to remain in Madrid with Atletico. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims he is actively pushing for a permanent move to the Metropolitano. Should a transfer to Atletico fail to materialize, he is expected to seek opportunities elsewhere.