Juventus to cut ties with Kostic as contract talks collapse

Filip Kostic's time in Turin is drawing to a quiet close. GoalZaza has learned that Juventus have made the definitive call not to extend the Serbian winger's contract beyond June 30, meaning his exit is now a matter of when, not if. For a player who arrived with the fanfare of a proven Bundesliga performer, it is a surprisingly subdued denouement.Let's not rewrite history. Kostic was never a poor signing. His left foot delivered a steady stream of crosses into the mixer, and his stamina on the flank was admirable. But here is the uncomfortable truth for the Old Lady: in a side that has lurched from one tactical identity to another, Kostic became a square peg. His game is built on width, on early delivery, on the kind of direct wing play that demands a target man to attack the near post. When Juventus shifted towards a more fluid, possession heavy approach under Thiago Motta, Kostic's limitations in tight spaces were exposed. He simply could not adapt to playing inside.So what now for the 31 year old A return to Germany feels natural, perhaps a club that plays to his strengths: space to run into, a striker who feeds on crosses, and a manager who values traditional wide men. For Juventus, this is a cold but correct piece of business. They are clearing the deck of ageing, high wage players who do not fit the long term vision. Kostic gave them a few good moments, but in modern football, sentiment does not pay the salaries. The squad needs players who offer more than one trick, and the Serbian international was a one trick pony in a two trick league. It is the right call, however harsh it may seem.