Miralem Pjanic pushing for Juventus return - Roma also interested
By Max Cooper
Barcelona want-away star Miralem Pjanic is pushing for a return to Serie A giants Juventus in the summer transfer window, while another former club AS Roma are also interested in bringing the Bosnian back to Italy.
The 31-year-old's career in Catalonia has been nothing short of a disaster since making the switch last summer - having been limited to a bit-part role under Ronald Koeman - and the Blaugrana have told the midfielder he is free to find a new club as they look to slash their bloated wage bill.
Pjanic himself is also keen to leave Camp Nou as he knows he will not be afforded the minutes he craves while Koeman remains on the bench for Barça.
Mundo Deportivo report that he is urging his old employers Juve to end his nightmare in Spain, by coming to an agreement with Barcelona that would see him return to Serie A.
Massimiliano Allegri's sensational return to Turin this summer has also increased Pjanic's appetite for a move back to Juventus, after he enjoyed some of the best years of his career under the Italian coach.
Allegri would welcome the Bosnian's arrival, given Juve's issues in the midfield area over the past two seasons. Those problems were lessened on Wednesday afternoon, however, when the Bianconeri completed the signing of Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo, in a deal worth €35m.
Locatelli's transfer could put Pjanic's move to Turin in doubt, although much depends on the future of Aaron Ramsey. Should Allegri decide he has no place for the Welshman in his plans and finds a suitable buyer, the Bianconeri could then make their move for the Barça outcast.
If not, the door is open for the midfielder to go back to another of his former clubs, Roma. Jose Mourinho has already tried to strengthen his central options by bidding for Granit Xhaka, but that deal failed to materialise. Instead, the Swiss signed a new deal with Arsenal.
The Giallorossi could still be angling for a new playmaker, and they may challenge Juve for Pjanic's signature despite the controversial circumstances in which he left the club to join in 2016.
Pjanic's situation is complicated by the extortionate wages which he earns at Barça and the fact that he still has three years remaining on his current contract. His reluctance to simply walk away from such an offer means that he is likely to move on an initial loan deal, something which both Juve and Barça agreed to when they met in a pre-season friendly at the beginning of August.