DI MARIA OFFERED TO ATLETICO MADRID, JUVENTUS DROP OUT OF CHASE

According to a report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus will not launch the offensive to secure the services of Angel Di Maria in the summer transfer window. But Barcelona will not have a clear run at the Argentine international, with Atletico Madrid getting the chance to sign him.  Angel Di Maria might be approaching the final phase of his glittering career, but he still has a lot to offer to a high-profile club in Europe. The 34-year-old is coming off a largely successful seven-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain, where he raked in 93 goals and 119 assists in 295 appearances while winning several major honours.

But Di Maria is a free agent heading into the summer transfer window after PSG chose not to hand him a new contract. And even though the Argentine international is well into his thirties, several European bigwigs are reportedly keen on signing him, including Barcelona and Juventus. Recent reports had even claimed that Juventus had leapfrogged Barcelona in the race to sign Di Maria. The Serie A giants are in the market for a replacement for Federico Bernardeschi, who has departed from the Allianz Stadium as a free agent after running down his contract. But Juventus will not launch the offensive for Di Maria as they have other priorities this summer.

However, Barcelona will not get a free run at the 34-year-old as intermediaries have offered him to Atletico Madrid, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Spanish giants might need to invest in an attacker, as Joao Felix faces an uncertain future at the Wanda Metropolitano. Thomas Lemar might also leave Atletico Madrid, thus making Di Maria a viable target.

As for the interest from Barcelona, the Blaugrana might need to invest in a wide-attacker in the summer transfer window amid rampant uncertainties surrounding the future of Ousmane Dembele. With the Frenchman no closer to committing himself to Barcelona, Di Maria has emerged as an option worth considering.