Juventus confirmed on Thursday morning that they had put an end to Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain’s contract by mutual agreement.
With Higuain now a being the free agent, he is expected to follow the similar footsteps as his former teammate Blaise Matuidi to the MLS and sign with Beckhams newly owned team Inter Miami. Higuain who arrived in Miami late last week will presumedly become Inter Miami’s highest-paid player at a salary of €7.5 million per season till 2022.
Gonzalo Higuain is now in Miami to sign his contract as new @InterMiamiCF player. Deal confirmed – he’s gonna leave Juventus for free. The owner @Jorge__Mas with him today. 🛬🇺🇸 #InterMiami #Juve #MLS #Higuain pic.twitter.com/x6CRIvVAiN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 11, 2020
Shortly before Juventus announced the Higuain leaving the club, Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso told reporters in the United States the player was Florida-bound.
“Gonzalo is finalising negotiations with the club and we hope this week to give the big news that he’s our player,” Alonso said.
Juve, meanwhile, were left counting the cost.
“This operation generates a negative economic effect of approximately 18.3 million euros on the 2019/2020 financial year due to the residual value write-down of the registration rights of the player,” the club said in a statement.
Juventus nearly paid the 90 million euros ($106 million) release clause to sign Higuain from Napoli in 2016, and he had ineffective loans at AC Milan and Chelsea before returning to Turin last season.
But the 32-year-old was immediately told by new Juve coach Andrea Pirlo he was no longer part of the team and decided move on good terms.
“He was a great champion, a great player but the cycle is over,” said Pirlo on his arrival in Turin.
“We looked each other in the eyes, we talked and we made this decision.
“I admire him a lot, but we have decided that the paths will separate.”
