Juventus wants Matteo Ruggeri. They just don’t want him at €25 million.

The Serie A giants have inquired about the Italian left-back, currently under contract at Atlético Madrid until 2030. But Atlético’s asking price has effectively frozen negotiations before they could really begin, with Juventus deeming the valuation too steep for a player who only arrived in Spain a year ago.

Ruggeri’s agents have confirmed that both Juventus and AS Roma have come knocking, along with other clubs from Italy and abroad. For now, though, the 23-year-old remains an Atlético player, and his club has no particular urgency to sell.

The numbers behind Atlético’s asking price

Atlético Madrid signed Ruggeri from Atalanta on 1 July 2025 for a reported fee between €17 million and €20 million. Now, barely 12 months later, they’re asking for €25 million. In his debut La Liga campaign, the Italian made 47 appearances and contributed 7 assists. His market value has risen accordingly, with estimates now placing Ruggeri’s worth somewhere between €20 million and €28 million, a range that makes Atlético’s €25 million demand look less like gouging and more like positioning near the midpoint.

Born on 11 July 2002, Ruggeri is still just 23.

Why Juventus is looking at left-backs in the first place

This isn’t a case of Juventus window-shopping for fun. The club is actively monitoring left-back options because Andrea Cambiaso, their current first-choice in that position, may leave this summer.

Atlético’s side of the equation

Atlético Madrid isn’t exactly desperate to sell. Ruggeri is under contract until June 2030, which gives the Spanish club enormous leverage. That said, Atlético has been exploring new signings of their own, with reports linking the club to Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella as a potential left-back addition. If Atlético were to secure Cucurella or another established left-back, Ruggeri’s path to regular minutes could narrow considerably.

For now, Ruggeri remains at Atlético, Cucurella remains at Chelsea, and the €25 million price tag remains in place.

Roma’s interest adds another layer. Competition between two Serie A clubs for the same player tends to inflate prices rather than reduce them. If Roma decides to push harder than Juventus, Atlético could use that leverage to extract even better terms.