Franck Kessie might not be done with Serie A just yet. The Ivorian midfielder, who spent four years at Milan and helped them win the Scudetto in 2022, could be heading back to Italy — and this time Juventus looks like the frontrunner to land him.
The reason comes down to one name: Ricky Massara. Juve’s current sporting director was at Milan when Kessie was arguably at his best, and he knows the player as well as anyone in the business. According to a report from Alfredo Pedulla, Massara’s relationship with Kessie’s agent could be the deciding factor here. That connection didn’t exist with either Damien Comolli or Cristiano Giuntoli, which made negotiations trickier under previous management.
Massara also tried to bring Kessie to Roma during his time there. So this isn’t a new interest — it’s a long-running one that finally has the right conditions.
Timing Matters
Juventus held some early talks with Kessie’s camp back in January, but those were under the old front office. Now that Massara is in charge of the sporting side, the conversation can start fresh with someone who’s already on good terms with the people around Kessie. That’s a big deal in transfer negotiations, where personal relationships often grease the wheels more than the actual money on the table.
Kessie’s spell at Barcelona hasn’t gone the way he probably hoped. After leaving Milan on a free transfer in 2022, he struggled to lock down consistent minutes at Camp Nou. A loan move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia followed, and while he was solid there, it’s not exactly the kind of career move that raises eyebrows. At 29, he’s still in his prime physically, and a return to a league where he already proved he can dominate makes sense for everyone involved.
The big question is whether Kessie actually wants to come back to Serie A. Italy treated him well, and Milan fans still remember his physical, box-to-box presence fondly. But going to Juventus would mean joining a direct rival, and that might give him some pause. On the flip side, Juve needs midfield depth, and they could offer him a starring role again rather than being a rotational piece.
Massara’s Ace
Massara’s personal touch can’t be overstated here. He was there when Kessie was doing his best work in Italy. He knows what makes the player tick — on and off the pitch. That kind of relationship doesn’t exist with most other clubs in the mix. If Juve decides to push for this deal, they’ve got a built-in advantage that no amount of transfer budget can replicate.
Nothing is final yet. But if you’re looking for a favorite in this race, the smart money is on the team with the guy who already has Kessie’s number saved in his phone.
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