Juventus confirms Boca starlet Bentancur will arrive next season

Juventus will take up its option to buy 19-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur next season, the Italian club's CEO confirmed Sunday.

Giuseppe Marotta told Premium Sport the Bianconeri intend to bring Bentancur to Italy after blocking the sale of the teenager to AC Milan earlier this summer.

Milan had reportedly tabled a €13-million bid for the Boca starlet, who's also drawn interest from Real Madrid and Arsenal, but Juve wouldn't waive its first right of first refusal on the player.

The Old Lady has a €10.4-million agreement already in place with Boca, according to various reports in Italy, stemming from the negotiations to send Carlos Tevez back to his childhood club in 2015.

"On Bentancur, we have an option to buy him, the result of the sale of Tevez, and almost for sure we will enforce it," Marotta said. "It is an operation we will complete for the 2017-18 season."

A central midfielder who's comfortable in possession, Bentancur could potentially be considered a long-term replacement for Paul Pogba. The likes of Mario Lemina and Kwadwo Asamoah have so far benefitted from the Frenchman's departure, although there's an understanding that neither offer the same explosiveness as their former teammate.

Bentancur is currently a starter for Boca in the Argentine Primera Division.