Cuadrado denies betrayal over free-agent switch from Juve to Inter

Juan Cuadrado has rejected accusations that he ‘betrayed’ Juventus by joining city rivals Inter as a free agent in 2023. The Colombia international insisted he had no desire to leave the Turin club, claiming Juventus first broke their promise to him. Cuadrado joined Juventus in 2015 after spells at Udinese, Lecce, Fiorentina and Chelsea.

The Colombian defender described his move as a necessity after his contract expired. “I was a free agent after eight years, and many people considered it a betrayal when I moved to Inter,” Cuadrado told DSports. “However, when you are out of work, you need to seek other options. Besides, I didn’t want to leave Juventus, they had offered me a new contract, and then broke their promise.”

His time at Inter lasted only a few months and brought little success. After leaving Juventus, Cuadrado played briefly for Inter before joining Atalanta, then spent last season at Pisa. Now aged 36, he is again a free agent, though his emotional ties to Juventus remain intact.

“At Juventus I was the captain, I made history for the club with over 300 games, a figure even many Italian players never managed to achieve,” he said. “I see that and I feel proud.” Cuadrado’s loyalty to Juventus is evident despite the broken promise that pushed him out.

He has not ruled out retirement but confirmed multiple offers are under consideration. “I received offers from MLS, the Mexican League, and one from Europe, but we’re waiting to see what happens,” he said. “When I talked to my wife about coming back to play in Colombia, she wasn’t entirely on board, so I also have to think about what’s best for my family.”

The contrast between Cuadrado’s stated loyalty and his forced departure highlights the fragility of club promises in modern football. His career arc—from Juventus captain to itinerant free agent—also underscores how quickly fortunes can shift in the sport.

Cuadrado’s comments come as a reminder of the personal cost behind high-profile transfers, where contractual assurances can collapse without warning. For the 36-year-old, the next move may well determine whether his Juventus chapter closes permanently or finds an unexpected epilogue.