The summer market has not yet opened, but one battle line is already clear: Inter and Juventus are preparing to go head-to-head for Zeki Çelik.
The Roma wingback is edging towards the exit at the Stadio Olimpico. His contract is running down, the club shows no inclination to extend it, and barring a late U-turn he will walk away on a free in June. For a 29-year-old with Serie A experience and a Ligue 1 title on his CV from his Lille days, that combination of pedigree and price is irresistible.
Especially to Beppe Marotta.
Bosman deals have become a hallmark of the Inter chief’s work at San Siro, and Çelik fits the profile perfectly: low cost, proven, and available at a time when the Nerazzurri are recalibrating their squad.
Inter’s Long-Term Plan at Wingback
Inter’s interest is not romantic, it is strategic. Denzel Dumfries could leave this summer, and the club needs a long-term solution on the right flank. The position is too important in their system to be left to improvisation.
Cristian Chivu is expected to channel a significant slice of the transfer budget into a broader defensive rebuild, with several veterans likely to depart. That reality makes a free transfer like Çelik even more attractive. He would not eat into funds earmarked for centre-backs and structural changes, yet he would add depth and experience in a key role.
For Inter, it is the sort of move that keeps a winning machine oiled without breaking the bank.
Juventus Join the Chase
There is a problem, though. Juventus are watching the same opportunity.
The Turin giants have also been combing the market for defensive reinforcements, and Çelik’s contract situation has pushed his name towards the top of their list. A free agent with Serie A know-how ticks several boxes for a club trying to reshape its back line while maintaining competitiveness.
Juventus are keeping close tabs on the situation, aware that every day without a renewal at Roma nudges Çelik closer to the open market – and closer to a potential tug-of-war between the two historic rivals.
Roma’s stance has created the opening. Inter and Juventus are ready to exploit it. The only question now is which shirt Zeki Çelik will be pulling on when the new season kicks off.
