The Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder has struggled for consistent form in Serie A this season but is apparently admired by the world’s top clubs.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have held interest in Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic, based on former team-mate Medhi Benatia.
The Morocco centre-back, now plying his trade with Al-Duhail in Qatar, says Pjanic receives offers to depart Serie A in every transfer window.
Since joining from Roma in 2016, Pjanic has made more than 150 appearances for Juventus in all competitions, winning the Italian title in each of his three completed seasons at the club.
“He still has three years on his contract and Juve are doing well,” Benatia told Tuttosport.
“It is true that in each window he has the chance to depart: PSG are interested in him, and before that even Actual have looked at him but, in the long run, he has stayed with the club.
“His love for Juventus, where he feels assurance, prevailed: in the dressing room he is one of the leaders, he knows how to make himself respected and heard.
“However, we know, situations can change; the club could decide to sell him.
“But if it depends upon the player, he will remain in Turin.
“He never told me he wanted to proceed; on the contrary. With Juve he shifted his mindset today he plays to win, always.”
Pjanic’s form at Juve has been up and down so far this year, but the same can be said of a number of players still adapting to Maurizio Sarri’s tactical doctrine.
Benatia has no doubts over his enduring quality, and he believes the coronavirus-enforced break in the Serie A season could prove an opportunity for Pjanic to reset and rediscover his form when he returns.
“He’s more quality than others. [Rodrigo] Bentancur has a bright future ahead of him and will become one of the best, but at the moment he is still a step below.
“He is also self-critical. I phoned and complimented him on a game, he was stressed and said he played badly because he’d lost two balls in dangerous locations.
“This stop will do him good to come back to being the most powerful in Italy and among the best in the world.”
