Report Witsel has rejected Udinese offer as free agent | OneFootball

Axel Witsel has informed Udinese that he will not be joining them, despite seeming to agree personal terms as a free agent.

The report was first made by Belgian transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri, and has now been confirmed by Sky Sport Italia.

The midfielder is a free agent after his contract with Atletico Madrid was allowed to run down and he was looking for somewhere he could play regularly.

His aim now at the age of 36 is to finish his career with a place at the 2026 World Cup with Belgium.

Udinese will not be welcoming Witsel

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 19: Axel Witsel #20 of Atletico De Madrid celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group B match between Seattle Sounders FC and Club Atletico de Madrid at Lumen Field on June 19, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

However, after agreeing personal terms with Udinese, Witsel seemingly changed his mind and decided against coming to Udinese.

It was not his first close call with Serie A, as he had been in a hotel for hours on deadline day in 2016 waiting for Juventus to give the all clear, only for the paperwork to not be completed in time.

His previous clubs include Standard Liege, Benfica, Zenit St. Petersburg, Tianjin Quanjian and Borussia Dortmund before the free transfer to Atletico Madrid in 2022.

Udinese had offered a one-year contract with potential option for a second season.