Supposedly Chelsea-bound Rugani bound for the USA with Juventus instead

Juventus have begun their summer USA Tour today, landing in scenic New Jersey for a four-match East Coast swing that will include the MLS All-Star game in Atlanta on August 1. Juve’s announced 27-man squad may be sans Cristiano Ronaldo, but it includes a certain Daniele Rugani, who was supposed to be bound for Chelsea more times than we can count already.

And yet, the “close deal” looks literally thousands of miles away.

But fear not people, the Italian press is here to save us from the abyss!

Despite the inconvenient news above, Monday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Chelsea have (once again) offered €50m for Rugani and the deal is “destined” to be closed soon. According to the Italian outlet, the Bianconeri need to start their selling spree this week (Rugani only representing one of them, among others) as they try to balance the books after the Cristiano Ronaldo acquisition.

No report from Italy would be complete without Alfredo Pedullà, so here he is with the latest hotness.

Taking a brief break from pushing a Higuain story (yawn), Pedullà reveals the shocking news that Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici is continuing to do his job rather than frolic around the US with the rest of the team. He’s staying behind to conduct business in Milan — no place else can one conduct business in Northern Italy! — which of course includes Rugani, and “soon” Higuain (so soon!) and maybe even €100m-man Pjanic.

Hot hot hot! (Or not.)