Fiorentina Pursue Joao Mario with Loan-and-Buy Offer

Fiorentina have made their move for Juventus full-back Joao Mario, tabling a formal offer that could bring a swift end to his uncertain summer in Turin.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Viola have proposed a season-long loan with an option to buy set at around €8m-€9m, a structure that suits a club looking to strengthen the flanks without committing immediately to a permanent deal. The proposal is on Juventus’ desk and, with all parties aligned on the need for clarity before the new campaign, the operation is expected to accelerate over the coming days.

Juventus' Position

For Juventus, the situation is clear. Joao Mario is not thought to be part of Luciano Spalletti’s plans for the 2026-27 season. One year after arriving from Porto in a €12.6m transfer, the full-back stands at a crossroads.

His first season in Italy never really caught fire. Joao Mario managed just 10 Serie A appearances for the Bianconeri before being folded into a January move that sent him to Bologna and brought Emil Holm the other way. It was a pragmatic swap: minutes for the defender, depth for Juve.

The gamble never turned into something more permanent. Neither Juventus nor Bologna chose to trigger a full transfer at the end of those loan arrangements, sending Joao Mario back to Turin for pre-season with his future still hanging in the balance.

Fiorentina's Strategy

Now Fiorentina are trying to break that stalemate.

For the Viola, this is a calculated play. A loan keeps the risk low. The option to buy, set below the fee Juventus originally paid Porto, offers upside if Joao Mario settles quickly and recaptures the form that first drew the Bianconeri to him.

For the player, it is a chance to reset in Serie A rather than drift on the fringes of a squad where the coach has already looked beyond him.

The bid is on the table. The timelines are tight. If the deal is pushed over the line this week, Joao Mario’s next chapter could be written in Florence rather than in the shadows of another season in Turin.