After 67 minutes in Marseille, Juventus eyes the young Bakola
In the heart of the Vélodrome stadium, Darryl Bakola logged only sixty‑seven short minutes of Ligue 1 action last season before packing his bags for Italy. Eight months later, the 18‑year‑old midfielder is already on Juventus's radar, who are closely monitoring him to bolster their midfield.
Intensive scouting by Juventus
As reported by Corriere dello Sport, the new Juventus sporting directorate, led by Giovanni Carnevali and Frederic Massara, has launched its scouting work ahead of the upcoming transfer windows. Five midfielders are being closely examined: Darryl Bakola and four Brazilian players, André, Breno Bidon, Gabriel Bontempo and Matheus Martinelli.
The Roman daily notes that the Bakola file is particularly expensive, with a valuation close to thirty million euros. Several Premier League clubs are also said to be watching, but no offer has yet been made, Juventus seeking to gauge the cost of the deal and the intensity of the competition.
Recent career and valuation
On September 13, Sassuolo beat Juventus at the Mapei Stadium, and Bakola took part in the final half‑hour of the match. He has already provided an assist in two hundred ninety‑seven minutes of Serie A this season.
Contracted until 2030 with the Neroverdi, Bakola had left an OM that had just taken Ismaël Koné to Sassuolo. Transferred in February for around ten million euros, with bonuses that could increase the sum, his valuation would therefore have practically tripled in a few months according to the Corriere.
Bakola's case mirrors that of former Marseille players whose value has exploded. Notably there is Iliman Ndiaye, who left OM in 2024 after 46 games (4 goals, 5 assists) to join Everton and then Manchester City in a deal worth around sixty‑five million pounds.
Ismaël Koné, recruited by OM for twelve million euros, left after nine appearances for Sassuolo, which exercised its purchase option. Leonardo Balerdi, already a starter at Marseille, meanwhile signed for AS Rome this summer.
Bakola has yet to achieve anything that would allow talk of definitive regret. His first full season in Serie A is only just beginning, but between the ten million euros paid by Sassuolo in February and the thirty million now being discussed, his progress already offers a different perspective on his departure from Marseille.