Unsettled Barcelona target’s exit blocked until 2021

TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Paulo Dybala of Juventus celebrates after scoring the of 3-0 with teammate Matthijs De Ligt goal during the Coppa Italia match between Juventus and Udinese Calcio at Allianz Stadium on January 15, 2020 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 15: Paulo Dybala of Juventus celebrates after scoring the of 3-0 with teammate Matthijs De Ligt goal during the Coppa Italia match between Juventus and Udinese Calcio at Allianz Stadium on January 15, 2020 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)

Barcelona will have to wait until the summer of 2021 to sign star Juventus defender and former Frenkie de Jong’s teammate, Matthijs de Ligt.

The former Ajax captain moved to the Serie A side in the summer of 2019 for a fee of $88 million (£68million) despite being heavily linked with Barcelona to join club and country teammate, Frenkie de Jong. De Ligt, however, has struggled to settle in Italy, often finding himself on the bench lately.

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With the Catalan’s appointment of a new coach, one of the biggest tasks for the new man is to fix the defensive issues currently troubling Barca, with a primary aim to replace the aging Gerrard Pique. This led to many speculating the possibility of a move for the heavily targetted center-back, De Ligt.

The 20-year-old, however, will have to wait until 2021 despite struggling with his current squad as Daily Mail reports that Italy’s new tax scheme passed by its government back at the start of 2019 that taxed only 50% of Matthijs’s salary.

The issue is that these tax benefits only apply if the player is guaranteed to spend at least 2 years in Italy. Meaning any move outside the country will result in a direct penalty for his current employers, who would then be forced to pay up the omitted taxes that they currently enjoy. This amount will vary as the tax to be paid would be until the date of sale. Regardless to say that the Bianconeri will avoid this at all costs.

Thus, any potential candidates, especially Barca who are keen on signing the talented youngster to resolve their defensive issues, will have to wait until 2021 to make a formal offer for the star. The Holland international’s current release clause is said to be around $175 million (£135 million), but obviously cannot applicable until 2021 due to the tax scheme.

Should Barca wait until 2021 to sign Matthijs de Ligt?