The Moroccan centre back is behind Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci in the central defensive pecking order in Turin, having made just five Serie A appearances under Allegri this term.
- Cameriere a #Benatia: 'Fai un gol e lo dedichi a me'#Benatia - 'Magari, per segnare devo giocare'
— Marco Zanotti (@MarcoZanotti90) 2 January 2019
#Juve#Juventus pic.twitter.com/2JFfOicLll
The 31-year-old has now aimed a dig at the Italian coach with a post on social media, after uploading a story to his Instagram account in which he was asked in a restaurant if he would dedicate his next goal to his waiter. As quoted by Football.London, Benatia replied: “I have to play in order to score.”
Benatia’s latest comments are the latest suggestion that the defender’s future lies away from Juventus, having previously complained about his lack of game time to Allegri. According to journalist Nicholas Schira, Arsenal could provide the Moroccan’s escape route.
L’entourage di Mehdi #Benatia ha ricevuto proposte da #Arsenal e #Schalke nelle ultime settimane: il centrale marocchino era pronto a valutarle, ma per la #Juventus a gennaio è incedibile. In estate invece probabile l’addio #calciomercato
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) 5 January 2019
The transfer insider has suggested that Benatia has received proposals from both the Gunners and Bundesliga outfit Schalke in recent weeks.
Arsenal are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements given the fitness struggles of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny, whilst Rob Holding’s season-ending injury has provided further problems for Unai Emery in central defence.
Summer signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos has been the only consistent presence at the heart of defence for the Gunners this term, and Benatia’s seemingly untenable position at Juventus could play into the Premier League side’s hands.
Arsenal defence today... pic.twitter.com/QTvY69aL4O
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 29, 2018
Crucially, however, Schira goes on to suggest that a January transfer away from Juventus is not a possibility for Benatia. Though it is said that Benatia is willing to consider any offers this month, the defender is apparently ‘non-transferable’ from Turin this month.
However, it is added that a summer departure for the Morocco international is likely, meaning that the Gunners could finally get their man – although they will have to wait until the end of the season to seal the deal.
Source : 90min