George Atangana, the agent of Franck Kessie, has blamed Juventus for the collapse of the midfielder’s proposed move to the Allianz Stadium, saying the negotiations ultimately became a matter of “consideration, of confidence in his abilities and, above all, of dignity”.
The Ivory Coast international, formerly of Milan and Barcelona, was out of contract after his deal with Al-Hilal expired in June. Juventus had been discussing a possible move for several months, but Kessie rejected the club’s offer in the final days of August and instead returned to Atalanta.
Atangana said negotiations had started well before the opening of the summer transfer window, after Kessie decided he wanted to play for Juventus.
“The negotiation with Juventus didn’t begin in the first days of the transfer window. It began much earlier, when Franck, at the end of his contract, decided that he wanted to join Juventus,” the agent said in a statement reported by Gazzetta.
“Franck concretely proved, with facts and enormous financial sacrifices, how much he wanted to wear the Juventus shirt.”
Atangana said Kessie had rejected several other offers, including some worth considerably more than the terms he would have accepted from Juventus.
He added that he and the player had initially agreed to wait while the Italian club completed outgoing transfers and created the financial and sporting conditions required to make an offer.
However, Juventus’ formal proposal did not arrive until the final days of the transfer window and was significantly below the terms originally discussed. Atangana said Kessie had still been willing to reduce his demands because joining Juventus, rather than maximising his earnings, had become the player’s priority.
Despite that flexibility, the two parties failed to reach an agreement.
Atangana said Kessie eventually concluded that Juventus were not sufficiently determined to sign him, adding that the situation had become linked to the player’s sense of value and professional dignity.
“There is an African proverb that I believe perfectly captures the meaning of this whole affair: ‘Desiring and deeply appreciating something does not mean being willing to accept it at any cost. Everything has its limits.’”
Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali had offered a different explanation for the failed deal, claiming Kessie and his representative may not have wanted the move badly enough.
“There were many difficulties around Kessie’s demands, but I think the main issue is that he and his agent simply weren’t interested enough. Anyone who comes to Juventus must be very proud to wear this jersey,” Carnevali said before Juventus’ 2-0 victory over Parma last weekend.
Atangana rejected that assessment, saying Kessie had waited for Juventus for weeks and remained available until the final stage of the window.
He stressed that the midfielder was capable of making his own decisions and that an agent’s role was to advise and negotiate, rather than persuade a player to accept an offer simply to complete a transfer.
“The decision to end the negotiations came when, faced with the rigidity and difficulties encountered, Franck felt that the conditions for reaching a positive conclusion no longer existed,” Atangana said.
The agent did, however, thank Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti for his appreciation of Kessie and for motivating the player throughout the process. Atangana said Spalletti’s attitude was one of the main reasons Kessie continued to consider the move until the final days.
Kessie has since signed a three-year contract with Atalanta, with an option for an additional season.
Atangana said the Percassi family, who own Atalanta, recognised the player’s discomfort and focused on his previous relationship with the club rather than financial details.
Kessie did not return to Bergamo because he lacked other opportunities, his agent added. He had offers from prestigious clubs on significant financial terms, but chose Atalanta because he felt wanted, respected and valued there.
“He chose Bergamo because that is where he felt wanted, respected and valued, both as a person and as a footballer,” Atangana said.
