Why Everyone Is Talking About Dusan Vlahovic’s Arsenal Snub Again
Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic is set to become a free agent at the end of June after failing to agree on a new contract with Juventus, bringing an end to a four-and-a-half-year spell in Turin.
According to reports, discussions between the player and club officials failed to produce a breakthrough, with Vlahovic’s wage demands reportedly exceeding what Juventus were prepared to offer. As a result, the 26-year-old will depart when his contract expires on June 30.
Vlahovic leaves Juventus having scored 68 goals in 168 appearances. Despite a respectable return in front of goal, his time in Italy has been marked by inconsistency and injuries. During the 2025/26 season, he managed 10 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions while struggling with fitness setbacks.
The striker’s impending departure has reignited debate over his decision to reject a move to Arsenal in January 2022. At the time, the Gunners were actively pursuing a replacement for departing captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and reportedly offered £50 million plus midfielder Lucas Torreira to secure Vlahovic’s signature from ACF Fiorentina.
However, the Serbian forward opted to join Juventus in a deal worth around £66 million, later insisting that Arsenal had never been a realistic destination for him.
The decision drew criticism from former Italy international Antonio Cassano, who argued at the time that Vlahovic had made the wrong career move. Speaking on Bobo TV, Cassano suggested the striker would have benefited from joining a club such as Arsenal, where expectations would have been more manageable during a rebuilding phase.
Cassano warned that succeeding at Juventus required far more than replicating performances shown at Fiorentina, insisting that elite-level consistency, decisive displays, and title-winning contributions were expected from the club’s leading forwards.
In hindsight, those comments have gained renewed attention. During Vlahovic’s stay, Juventus failed to reclaim the Serie A title, while Arsenal have established themselves among Europe’s leading clubs under manager Mikel Arteta.
Despite his departure from Juventus, Vlahovic remains an attractive option on the transfer market. Several top clubs, including Napoli, FC Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and FC Barcelona, have reportedly been linked with the striker ahead of the summer transfer window.
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