Sassuolo: ‘Juventus missed the deadline to sign Berardi’

Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali says that Juventus have ‘missed the deadline’ for signing winger Domenico Berardi this summer. The clubs have been in talks with one another to try and agree a favourable deal for the Italy international, who has reportedly told the Neroverdi  that he wants to leave.

Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Carnevali confirmed the Bianconeri’s interest, but insisted that it was too late to sell Berardi as Sassuolo would be unable to secure a replacement:

“Juventus missed the deadline. I had told Giuntoli that the 17th was the last day, otherwise I couldn’t get the replacement.”

“There was a principle of negotiation, Juve had shown interest in our player and Sassuolo had opened to the sale of Berardi about ten days ago also because Domenico had expressed his liking for the operation. No official proposal came to me. When Juve first asked us for Berardi, we only sketched out an economic discussion.

“Sassuolo made it clear that the player’s valuation was over €30 million, but on our side there was a willingness to listen to an offer from Juve and to find together the right amount and the formula that could satisfy both clubs. I had specified to Juve that we would not accept the inclusion of players in the negotiation because we have already changed so much.

“Sassuolo had given a specific date by which we had to close: August 17. Because on that day our chance to buy Berardi’s replacement expired. I made it clear to Giuntoli and Domenico’s agents that we could not exceed that date.

“But Giuntoli was never heard from again. I am very annoyed with Juve because on our side there has always been openness and availability. It would have been better then to talk first with Sassuolo and then with Berardi’s agents.

“If Juve proposes the right offer I’ll tell them no. We accepted that Berardi had reached an agreement with Juve, and for the past ten days Domenico has been training separately because he was destined for transfer.”