Pjanić Reveals the Story Behind Alajbegović's Transfer
The young Bosnia and Herzegovina international arrived in Turin this summer for €30 million, and legendary Miralem Pjanić has now revealed how the decision unfolded.
The young Bosnia and Herzegovina international arrived in Turin this summer for €30 million, and legendary Miralem Pjanić has now revealed how the decision unfolded.
The transfer of 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegović to Juventus is one of the Turin club's most high-profile signings this summer, and now legendary Bosnia and Herzegovina international Miralem Pjanić has revealed intriguing details from behind the scenes. In an interview with Tuttomercato, Pjanić highlighted that the young midfielder had more financially lucrative offers, but he and his family ultimately chose the Turin club.
Pjanić, who himself wore the Old Lady's jersey, emphasized that Alajbegović's decision showed his maturity. "For an 18-year-old, Kerim is very mature and has a supportive family behind him. They made the decision together. He has always looked up to Serie A," Pjanić told Tuttomercato.
He added that Juventus managed to beat the competition despite richer offers. "Juve is always Juve. Juventus's directors managed to convince a kid who had better and more financially rewarding offers to choose Turin," said the former midfielder of the Turin club. According to Telegram, Chelsea reportedly had the best financial offer, but only offered a loan as a development option.
Alajbegović's path to Juventus was quite unusual. Last summer, he moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Red Bull Salzburg for just €2 million, which raised many eyebrows given that he had been touted as a generational talent for years. In Salzburg, he scored 13 goals and added four assists in 40 matches in one season, and also stood out at the World Cup with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
By March 2026, just nine months after the sale, Bayer realized they had a golden goose and bought back his contract for €8 million. Leverkusen immediately planned a resale, and this summer Juventus shelled out €30 million for him. Xabi Alonso, Bayer's coach, had the same problem as at Leverkusen-a crowded roster and little opportunity for such a young player.
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has already hinted at how he sees Alajbegović in his squad. After a friendly against Nico, he explained that he "sees more of a trequartista than a left winger," which Telegram interpreted as a message that Juventus will spend this season building and experimenting. This means Alajbegović will have to be ready for various roles in the team.
Pjanić also revealed what he told the young international after the transfer. "I told him to just think about putting on his boots, to listen to coach Luciano Spalletti, and to enjoy football. There will be ups and downs, but both the club and I will be there for him when it gets toughest. It's important that he gets to know his teammates as soon as possible and learns Italian," Pjanić said.
The former Bosnia and Herzegovina international is confident that Alajbegović will have ideal conditions for development under the Italian expert. "Spalletti knows exactly how to use Kerim's qualities. I worked with him for six months at Roma and I know how much he can help young players progress," Pjanić concluded.
Alajbegović has already joined the Turin club's preparations, where he will try to earn his first minutes in the jersey of one of Europe's biggest clubs. At Juventus, he will compete for a spot with players like Kenan Yıldız, Jérémie Boge, and Nicolás González, and Spalletti has already announced that he will expand options and try to make his players more versatile.
