Fiorentina's Loan Bid for Joao Mario from Juventus

Fiorentina have made their move.

On Saturday, reports in Italy confirmed that the Viola have submitted a formal offer to Juventus for full-back Joao Mario, a player who does not feature in Luciano Spalletti’s plans for the 2026-27 season.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Fiorentina have proposed a season-long loan with an option to buy set at around €8m-€9m. It is a structure that suits all parties: limited risk for Fiorentina, a potential sale on the horizon for Juventus, and a chance of stability for a player whose first year in Italy never really settled.

The feeling around the deal is that it will not drag on. Indications from the weekend suggest the move could be wrapped up as early as next week if the final details fall into place.

Joao Mario arrived in Turin from Porto in the previous summer window for €12.6m, a signing that looked like a long-term investment for the Bianconeri. Instead, his first Serie A campaign quickly lost momentum. He made just 10 league appearances before Juventus sent him on loan to Bologna in January, in a move that saw Emil Holm travel in the opposite direction.

That double deal was supposed to offer clarity. It did not.

Neither Juventus nor Bologna chose to trigger a permanent transfer at the end of the season, leaving Joao Mario back in Turin for pre-season, but effectively on the outside looking in.

Now Fiorentina are offering a way out and a fresh start.

If the numbers land where Juventus want them, Joao Mario’s next run down the right flank may well be in purple, not black and white.