1 Summer Transfer Rumour Juventus Fans Do Not Want to Come True

Having already watched their club sign the likes of Paulo Dybala and Sami Khedira, this summer promises to be a long one for fans of Juventus. The Bianconeri are linked with a raft of sales, each rumour more ludicrous than the last as transfer gossip spirals increasingly out of control.

Italian football’s grand Old Lady seems certain to lose leading man Carlos Tevez very soon, with reports in the peninsula’s press believing he is inching closer to a return to former club Boca Juniors (h/t NBC Sports).

Yet a series of photographs have somehow served to intensify a number of stories, with Jack Bezants of the Daily Mail believing Paul Pogba’s holiday snap with new Manchester United signing Memphis Depay might “convince Pogba to return to Old Trafford.”

The Frenchman is not the only Juventus midfielder caught on camera, however, with Andrea Pirlo’s visit to Yankee Stadium last week adding to talk he may be heading off to MLS. The Turin-based newspaper La Stampa believes the 36-year-old may wait until February 2016 before joining New York City FC (h/t ESPN FC).

Rather than anything stemming from such fallacious evidence, perhaps the one transfer rumour fans of La Madama do not want to come true concerns Arturo Vidal, as the Chilean star continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal.

Mario Davila/Associated Press

His name was hugely prominent in the news last week after being arrested and charged with a drink-driving offence, leading to a court appearance and subsequently seeing his license taken away, per beIN Sports.

Vidal offered a public apology, but Chilean newspaper El Mercurio claims that both Manchester United and Real Madrid ended their interest in the player because of the incident, per James Orr of the Independent. That leaves Arsenal as the last party pursuing the player, according to Marca (h/t the Daily Mirror). Arsene Wenger has even already admitted his admiration for the player.

“If I tell you I like him, you will announce the transfer just after that,” the coach told a press conference last month (h/t ESPN FC). “If you want me to say I like Arturo Vidal, yes I like Arturo Vidal. Are we in a transfer mode? I say, no."

Whatever their feelings on his recent behaviour, Juventus supporters will hope that the Premier League club do not follow up that interest, with Vidal clearly a hugely important member of Massimiliano Allegri’s squad.

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In 2014/15, the former Bayer Leverkusen man weighed in with eight goals and four assists, while statistics from WhoScored.com show he led the team with 3.1 tackles per game. A crucial player at both ends of the pitch, Vidal struggled in the early part of the season, but he told La Gazetta dello Sport he has no regrets about rushing back after knee surgery (h/t ESPN FC):

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I would do it all again, I seriously risked hurting myself beyond repair by trying to get back so soon. It was a decision I made for the love of Juventus. I could not have left this club in the lurch before a Europa League semi-final against Benfica.

Some [of the criticism] was unfair. Sometimes I had to play in a disastrous physical state, but only I and the doctor knew. If I am needed, I certainly never hold myself back. I certainly cannot be criticised on a professional level. I've always given one thousand percent for this club on the field, no matter how I was feeling.

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It is that attitude that makes him such an important figure, and one Juventus will hope is there to lead them next season as the club chases an historic fifth-consecutive Serie A title and another deep Champions League run. Indeed, if there is one rumour Juventus fans wish would disappear, it is talk of Arturo Vidal moving away.