'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
One of the longest transfer sagas of the pre-season finally come to an end as European football's current golden boy Matthijs de Ligt signed for Serie A champions Juventus for a record €75 million on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Dutch international had earlier expressed his desire to leave Ajax and was strongly linked with Barcelona before joining Juventus. The arrival of the teenager will immediately provide competition to the seasoned combination of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci in central defence while the teenager is also expected to become the future replacement for the ageing icon Chiellini.
Let's take a look at the three biggest gainers from this sensational deal.
#3 Serie A
The Bianconeri had already signed up Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey on a free but the arrival of Matthijs de Ligt is a big transfer for both the club and the league. The Dutchman had been linked with almost every other big club in Europe and was earmarked to join Barcelona.
Juventus could sign the Dutch international only after negotiations between the Catalan side and Mino Raiola broke down. This signing has once again propelled Serie A to the limelight. The Turin giants' capture of a young talent like De Ligt once again shows the ascent of the Italian league after years of mediocrity and controversies.
With the arrival of the Dutchman, this season in Serie A looks to be one of the best in recent times with Inter Milan and Napoli also buying big as they look to wrest the title from the Biaconeri.
The Nerazzurri has the most active of the two with Juventus legend Antonio Conte signing as the new manager for the Milan side and eight new players arriving at the San Siro.
Napoli has also been active in the market with Greek defender Kostas Manolas being the biggest signing so far. Carlo Ancellotti is now looking to link up with Colombian James Rodriguez once again as the Naples side inch closer to signing the player from Real Madrid.
#2 Mino Raiola
The Italian super-agent Mino Raiola first sprang into international popularity after Paul Pogba's return to Manchester United from Juventus where he played an instrumental role. The 51-year-old reportedly made around £20 million from that deal.
The agent is once again in the limelight and is once again linked to a big-money move with De Ligt arriving in Turin. Raiola, knowing the value that his player produced, was quick to offer him around after talks with the Blaugrana failed. This refusal of Barcelona to sign the teenager sparked rumours of the Dutchman joining Manchester United, Liverpool, Paris Saint Germain and finally Juventus.
The amount of money that Raiola will make from this deal is still not disclosed but the 51-year-old held long negotiations with the Bianconeri to seal the deal.
Mino Raiola's name was chanted by the Juve fans, thus showing his importance in the football world right now.
#1 Juventus and Gianluigi Buffon
The Bianconeri is the most dominant team in the Serie A, having won 35 league titles, 17 ahead of Inter Milan. They have won the last eight league titles consecutively and have been the dominant force in Italy since the treble-winning side of Inter Milan.
The Bianconeri though have failed to replicate their domestic dominance in the European stage. The Turin giants twice came close to winning the European title but twice fell in the finals with two of the greatest players in football history, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, playing spoilsport on two separate occasions.
The Bianconeri, in its pursuit for the elusive title, made their biggest buy ever when they signed Champions League all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who single-handedly stopped Juve from progressing to the semi-finals in the 2017-18 campaign with four goals in two matches.
After once again failing to land the title and an ageing backline to think about, the arrival of Matthijs De Ligt who incidentally scored the goal that knocked out Juve, will now make Juventus the favourites to win the Champions League again.
Gianluigi Buffon final hurrah may finally get him the only title that he hasn't won yet. The Italian joined the Bianconeri from PSG in the hopes of winning the Champions League in the twilight of his career.
