Maxi Araújo, the side of Sporting that interests Juventus, is the protagonist of the 79th edition of the heading ‘The rumor of the week’ from Sport to Minute, in which the arguments behind the biggest business in the market are analyzed in detail.
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01/11/2026
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O Sporting is signing a 2026/27 ‘forget’ sports season start, particularly in the I Liga, where the distance for the leader, FC Porto, seems not to want to stop increasing. However, its main figures remain highly quoted in the transfer market, as Maxi Araújo says.
The Uruguayan international gave, this week, what to speak, in Italy, where the newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport pointed him as one of Juventus' favorite targets for strengthening the left side of the defense team guided by Luciano Spalletti, already with a view to the next winter transfer market.
The South American appears well positioned, in a list that also contains the names of Nicolás Tagliafico (who aligns under the orders of Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca, in Olympique Lyon) and Rayan Ait-Nouri (teammate of the Portuguese also Reuben Dias and Matheus Nunes, in Manchester City).
Vecchia Signora also does not live a particularly happy time, but urgently considers the reinforcement of this land-specific area that will be willing to sell Juan Cabal to finance the acquisition of a player who is able to grab it as soon as possible.
Will it be time, at the age of 26, for Maxi Araújo to give the ‘jump’ to other competitive levels? Or will Sporting be able to hold the one that is one of its most valuable assets at least until the end of this season? O Sports to Minute analyzes the pros and cons of this rumor.
Why can it happen?
The side-left position is one of the most difficult to close, in current football, and the truth is that, at the entrance to that which is already the third season in European football, Maxi Araújo has already given evidence of competence, sometimes attacking, sometimes defending, so it is not surprising that it is referred to across borders.
Interestingly, one of the best exhibitions the Uruguayan international signed with the Sporting jersey was precisely against... Juventus, on November 4, 2025, when he scored the goal that was worth a tie to a ball, in the trip to Turin, in play to count for the Champions League.
Italy is no longer what it was, but it still represents an increase from the sporting and financial point of view in relation to the reality that is lived in Portugal, so it will not be to rule out that Vecchia Signora has spare assets ‘in its sleeve’ to convince it to ‘change air’ in the not too distant future.
Why can't it happen?
Maxi Araújo renewed a contract with Sporting three months ago, until June 2030, keeping the termination clause at the level of 80 million euros, but seeing increase, not only ordered, but also responsibilities, since it was ‘promoted’ to the group of team captains.
It will not be surprising that the direction led by Frederico Varandas will do anything to hold a fundamental player, inside (it is the fifth most used by Rui Borges, this time, behind only Sergi Altimira, Issa Doumbia, Gonçalo Inácio and Geny Catamo) and also outside the four lines.
It is, moreover, necessary to remember that the winter transfer market is rarely prodigal in large movements, so it is at least unlikely that the bianconera emblem will carry out a ‘madness’ of such size that it is able to make the green and white structure think twice.
Every week Sports to Minute presents a new edition of the heading ‘The rumor of the week’, which aims to analyze, in detail, the circumstances surrounding the most popular business in the transfer market.