‘It is difficult’: CEO admits it’s tough keeping his 22-year-old player after claims Chelsea want to sign him

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Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene has admitted to Tuttosport that they will struggle to hold on to Matthijs de Ligt if he wishes to leave this summer.

The Netherlands international has been linked with a move to Chelsea, as the Blues look to fill the void left by departures of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.

The 22-year-old has seemingly expressed desire to leave the Old Lady this summer, with talks over a new deal breaking down over a difference in preferences regarding a release clause.

This predictably lead to questions over his future during the CEO’s interview with TuttoSport, where he admitted the Turin side are in a tough situation regarding the Dutchman.

When asked about De Ligt, he said: “Let’s go back to talking about players who follow the advice of prosecutors or colleagues instead of the club. Today it is impossible to keep a player who wants to leave. But it’s always a question of numbers, it’s not that if someone wants to leave, you answer them: please, take a seat.

“It is difficult to keep a player, but from the negotiation table all three have to get up satisfied. And the fifth article always applies: whoever has the money has won.”

Juventus CEO admits De Ligt struggles

Chelsea are currently leading the race to sign the defender, with them reportedly willing to offer either Christian Pulisic or Timo Werner the other way.

Outside of Thiago Silva, the club currently have very inexperienced options guaranteed to be at the club next season, and even though De Ligt is young, his time at Juventus and Ajax has seen him become one of the most dominant defenders in world football.

While the Blues will surely need more than one signing at the back this summer, the Dutchman provides the basis of a potential defence for a decade, and the addition of a player with the versatility of Jules Kounde could compliment him perfectly.