The competition to sign 21-year-old left-back Ian Maatsen is in full swing, and now Juventus has joined the race for his services. According to a report from Tutto Juve, the Italian club is interested in adding Maatsen to their squad. However, they are not the only ones in the bidding war, as both Barcelona and Real Madrid have also shown interest in the promising defender.
Maatsen’s football career began at Chelsea’s youth academy in 2018 when he joined the club from PSV Eindhoven. Over the years, he has progressed through the ranks of the English team and gained experience through various loan spells. Finally, in the 2023/24 season, he earned a promotion to Chelsea’s first team.
Despite not being a regular starter at Chelsea, Maatsen has proven his worth in the eight games he has played this season. His performances have not gone unnoticed, leading to several top clubs showing interest in securing his services.
Juventus, in particular, has set their sights on the Dutch left-back. The Italian team is facing issues in the left-back position due to injuries that have affected Alex Sandro. As a result, they consider it essential to sign a young full-back to strengthen their squad.
However, Juventus is not alone in their interest in Maatsen. They will have to compete with two Spanish giants: Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barcelona already has a promising left-back in Alejandro Balde but lacks a high-level backup option. Signing Maatsen would provide them with the necessary depth in that position.
On the other hand, Real Madrid is also looking to reinforce their left-back position, despite having brought in Fran García last summer. The Madrid club believes that Maatsen would be a valuable addition, especially considering the possibility of future injuries to Ferland Mendy, their first-choice left-back.
Despite the interest from several clubs, Chelsea will try to retain Maatsen in their ranks. However, his current contract expires at the end of the season, which could allow him to join a new club next summer if an extension agreement is not reached in the coming months. The battle for Ian Maatsen is sure to continue being a hot topic in the world of transfers.
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