The full picture of Zeki Celik’s stunning switch to Juventus has emerged, and it makes painful reading in the capital, Roma had gone as far as booking the defender’s flights and scheduling his medical for Friday before the Bianconeri struck.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport, as relayed by SportMediaset, Roma’s renewal talks had recovered from an early freeze, Celik had initially sought around €3.8 million a year, leveraging Italy’s expiring tax incentives, and converged week by week on a package worth €3-3.1 million plus bonuses.

The agreement was effectively in place: documents carrying the proposal sealed by new sporting director Tony D’Amico had been sent, awaiting only the entourage’s countersignature. So certain were Roma of the outcome that flights to Fiumicino were reserved and the medical pencilled in for today, 17 July.

Zeki Celik joins Juventus (Source: Juventus)

Massara’s inside knowledge and Gasperini’s anger at Celik u-turn

Instead came the blitz, and its architect gives the story its twist.

Frederic Massara, now Juventus’ technical director, had personally opened the renewal negotiation with Celik during his own spell as Roma sporting director, before pausing over wage demands he feared could unbalance the Trigoria dressing room.

In Turin, that first-hand knowledge of the player’s situation became the foundation for a deal conducted entirely under the radar and announced within hours on Thursday evening.

Gian Piero Gasperini is said to be furious.

The Roma coach had lobbied the Friedkin ownership personally to accelerate the Celik dossier and regarded the Turk as part of the squad for the club’s Champions League return. Supporters have been no more forgiving, branding the defender a “traitor” across social media despite a lengthy farewell letter.