Carnevali sold Boga for €22m at Sassuolo. At Juventus, he signs him for €4.8m

Giovanni Carnevali’s first day at Continassa passed by amid meetings, talks and the confirmation of the most important signing agreed by Damien Comolli in the last transfer window. Since yesterday, Jeremie Boga has officially been a Juventus FC player on a permanent basis. The Bianconeri, who had signed him on a free loan from OGC Nice in January, have exercised their option to buy for €4.8m, plus €800,000 in additional costs.

“Juventus,” the club statement read, “have signed a sporting performance contract with the player until 30 June 2029.”

Carnevali’s first move as Juventus chief executive therefore represents continuity with the previous regime. Yet the former US Sassuolo director also pushed through the deal because few know the value of the Ivorian winger as well as he does.

It was Carnevali who brought Boga to Italy in the summer of 2018. Then 21, he joined Sassuolo from Chelsea FC for around €4m and spent three and a half years as a key figure in the Neroverdi side. Strong performances, guaranteed capital gain: in January 2022 he was sold to Atalanta BC for €22m plus bonuses, a deal that remains Sassuolo’s seventh-largest sale, behind Gianluca Scamacca to West Ham United, Manuel Locatelli to Juventus, Davide Frattesi to Inter Milan, Giacomo Raspadori to SSC Napoli, Hamed Junior Traorè to AFC Bournemouth and Stefano Sensi to Inter.

Boga arrived at Juventus in January after his relationship with Nice broke down, and quickly earned Luciano Spalletti’s appreciation for his versatility and ability to make an impact even off the bench. In the second half of last season, he made 15 appearances and scored four goals for the Bianconeri.

Those numbers convinced Juventus to keep him - and immediately persuaded Carnevali to complete the deal at a fee far lower than the one he had negotiated with Atalanta four and a half years ago.