Juventus's biggest burden: Vlahović earns a net annual salary of €12 million, severely injured, contract expires next summer.

In the top five leagues, the promising yet troubled clubs could be Manchester United in England and Juventus in Italy. Both teams have spent large sums but faced difficulties, with some highly paid players unsellable. Examples include Sancho at Manchester United and Vlahović at Juventus, who must see out their contracts before departing.

Juventus has revealed that their forward Vlahović suffers from a high-grade injury at the connection of the left rectus femoris muscle and tendon. Italian journalist Di Marzio reported that Vlahović will be sidelined for at least 2-3 months, with a longer absence if surgery is required. Since Serbia has missed out on the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, surgery is less problematic. Vlahović’s contract with Juventus ends this season, and the club will not renew it due to his high salary.

Juventus acquired Vlahović from Fiorentina in January 2022 for a hefty €83.5 million, while his market value at the time was €70 million. Since joining Juventus, he has played 162 matches across all competitions, scoring 64 goals and providing 16 assists. Vlahović earns a net annual salary of €12 million, making him one of Serie A’s highest-paid players, but his performance has been underwhelming due to frequent injuries and unmet expectations.

The image above shows Vlahović’s injury history; although he appears strong and imposing, he has proven to be quite injury-prone.

Now 25 years old and standing 1.90 meters tall, Vlahović is a left-footed striker whose contract with Juventus runs until 2026. His current market value is estimated at €35 million, which is less than half of his initial transfer fee. This season, he has made 20 appearances for Juventus in all competitions, scoring 8 goals and assisting 2. After his contract expires, it will be difficult for him to secure a lucrative deal, and even with a 50% salary reduction, few clubs would be interested.