Zeki Celik officially switched to Juventus, but get this, Roma had already booked the defender’s flights and scheduled his medical for today, July 17. Yeah, you read that right. The full picture of this stunning transfer has finally emerged, and trust me, it makes for some painful reading if you're a Roma fan. They were so unbelievably close to keeping him, only for Juventus to swoop in at the last possible second.
The Deal Roma Thought Was Done
Roma’s renewal talks with Celik were a bit of a rollercoaster. They started with an early freeze, then recovered, converging week by week on a sweet deal. Celik initially wanted around €3.8 million a year, playing his cards right with Italy’s expiring tax incentives. But they hammered out a package worth €3-3.1 million plus bonuses, and Roma was convinced it was done. Documents carrying this proposal, sealed by new sporting director Tony D’Amico, were sent off. All they needed was the entourage’s countersignature. Roma was so certain of the outcome that flights to Fiumicino were reserved, and that medical was penciled in. They were ready to roll with Celik in the squad.Massara Pulled a Fast One on His Old Team
Then came the "blitz," and the architect behind it is where this story gets spicy. Frederic Massara, now Juventus’s technical director, was the guy who personally started the renewal negotiation with Celik back when Massara was *Roma’s* sporting director. He paused those talks over wage demands he feared could unbalance the Trigoria dressing room. But you know what? That first-hand knowledge of Celik’s situation became the exact foundation for a deal that Juventus cooked up entirely under the radar. Within hours on Thursday evening, the transfer was announced. Talk about a brutal twist of fate for Roma. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is absolutely furious, and honestly, who can blame him? He had personally lobbied the Friedkin ownership to accelerate the Celik dossier and saw the Turk as a key part of the squad for their Champions League return. Supporters aren't much more forgiving, branding Celik a “traitor” across social media, even after he put out a lengthy farewell letter. This move is a huge blow, not just to the roster, but to the morale and trust within the club as they look ahead to their Champions League campaign.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.