A rule that FIFA once enforced upon Juventus could be what helps Inter sell Joao Mario to Benfica this summer, according to a report in the Italian print media.
As has been reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus were fined €37,200 back in 2019 for a clause they inserted in the contract when they sold Mehdi Benatia to Qatari side Al Duhail for €8 million plus bonuses.
The clause stipulated that Al Duhail cannot sell Mehdi Benatia to one of Italy’s top sides (Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Lazio, AS Roma) or Paris Saint Germain without having to pay Juventus a penalty fee of €5 million. The clause was in place until the summer of 2021.
Sporting Lisbon inserted a similar clause when they sold Joao Mario to Inter back in 2016 that stops Inter from selling the player to another Portuguese club.
Joao Mario is in advanced talks with Benfica so the clubs have been trying to resolve the clause. The way FIFA fined Juventus could mean that Sporting Lisbon have to remove the clause.
