Torino Tie Star Midfielder Down to New Long-Term Deal | OneFootball

Samuele Ricci has signed a long-term contract extension with Torino amid intense interest from fellow Serie A rivals Milan. According to Calciomercato, the new deal could be a mere formality, stating its only purpose is to facilitate his inevitable departure.

However, Ricci’s previous contract was due to expire in 2026. That way, Torino would’ve received next to nothing from his exit. After tying him down to a deal until 2028, Granata president Urbano Cairo can expect to earn a sizeable profit from his transfer.

Torino did a similar thing with Gleison Bremer shortly before his switch to Juventus. It was a gentlemen’s agreement which allowed the Turin outfit to cash in on the Brazilian defender. The same could happen with Ricci now that he has pledged his future to the club for another three years.

Ricci’s impressive form at Torino has not gone unnoticed. Numerous top clubs, including Manchester City, have set their sights on the 23-year-old. Indeed, after losing star midfielder Rodri to a season-ending injury, Pep Guardiola has identified Ricci as an ideal candidate to fill the void.

But Ricci is more likely to stay in Italy. Milan harbor a long-standing interest in his services. Indeed, ever since sanctioning Sandro Tonali’s move to Newcastle United, they’ve lacked a midfield leader. Tijjani Reijnder’s rise to stardom this season has compensated for that loss.

Unfortunately, the Dutchman alone hasn’t been enough. Therefore, Milan could soon contact Torino to open a dialogue for Ricci’s transfer to Stadio San Siro. It could cost them up to €25 million to get a deal over the line.