Fiorentina Closing In on Joao Mario from Juventus

Fiorentina are closing in on a deal to take Joao Mario off Juventus’ hands, sensing an opportunity in a career that has stalled badly in Turin.

The Viola are in advanced talks to sign the Portuguese full-back on loan with an option to buy, with the total package expected to land in the €8-9m range, according to Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio. For a player who cost Juventus €12m from FC Porto in the summer of 2025, it is a clear admission that the move has not worked.

Porto, who inserted a clause entitling them to 10 per cent of any profit on a future sale, stand to gain nothing. There is no profit here, only depreciation.

Juventus never truly found a place for Joao Mario. The 26-year-old managed just 13 appearances in black and white, offering a single assist before being moved on in January to Bologna as part of an exchange involving Emil Holm. The switch gave him a platform and a little oxygen: 15 games, two goals, more rhythm, but not enough to convince either club to commit long term.

So he returned to Turin this summer with his future effectively closed off. No clear role, no real path into the starting XI. Just a contract and a question mark.

That is where Fiorentina have stepped in. Staying in Serie A suits all parties. The player remains in a league he now knows, Juventus edge towards a permanent exit, and Fiorentina get a relatively low-risk option in a position that always demands depth and energy.

For Joao Mario, this is more than another loan. At 26, he is edging into the years that define a career. A strong season in Florence, and the option to buy becomes an easy decision. Another year on the margins, and the narrative becomes far harder to rewrite.