Frattesi’s Lazio start puts Juventus face-to-face with a summer near-miss

Davide Frattesi has scored three goals in his first six league matches for Lazio, giving Juventus a direct reminder of the midfielder they pursued but did not sign in the summer. He will face the Turin side in Sunday’s meeting after choosing Lazio over a possible move to Juventus, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

Juventus continued to track Frattesi after he left Inter in search of more playing time, Calciomercato.com reports. But interest did not become a deal. The report cites Juventus’ financial constraints, including financial fair play concerns, and Inter’s reluctance to sell to a direct rival as major obstacles.

The interest had a clear footballing logic. Juventus wanted a midfielder who could make attacking runs into the opposition box, and Calciomercato.com described Weston McKennie as the only player in their midfield with similar characteristics. Frattesi’s early scoring return at Lazio has put that need into sharp focus: three goals in six league games is the kind of contribution Juventus had hoped to add.

A possible swap involving Andrea Cambiaso was also discussed, the report says. Inter were looking for a wide player before turning their attention to Djed Spence, while Juventus were seeking another forward-running midfielder. The proposed exchange never materialised, leaving Frattesi to begin his Lazio spell and Juventus without that profile of addition.

The fixture now carries a personal edge for Frattesi, but it also gives Juventus a close look at a player they may keep considering. Calciomercato.com says the club will continue to monitor him, so the summer link may not end with Sunday’s match.

Juventus enter the game seventh with 11 points from six matches: three wins, two draws and one defeat. Frattesi’s start makes the meeting more than a reunion with an abandoned target; it is a test of how much his attacking movement could matter against a side that wanted more of it in midfield.