Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic set for Barcelona move, says Serbia fitness coach

While AC Milan has long been linked with the 26-year-old, Ilic believes a move to Barcelona is the most likely next step.

"He's going to Barca, that's what I think," Ilic told Tuttosport. "Before joining Juventus, he had an offer from Atletico Madrid, but he chose the Bianconeri instead. That was an offer he couldn't refuse."

Vlahovic, who impressed as a teenager at Fiorentina, has struggled to recapture that early form at Juventus. Ilic, a trusted confidant who has worked with the striker since 2021, suggested that a fresh start abroad could reignite his career.

"Dusan loves and respects Italy, which is why he stayed so long," Ilic said. "But now he needs to get his career back on track and try to progress. Only then will he return to the top-class player we saw at Fiorentina. He was always a world-class goalscorer."

Barcelona are reportedly prioritizing the signing of a centre-forward. Vlahovic's free-agent status makes him an attractive option, especially given the club's ongoing salary cap considerations.

The Juventus forward has also attracted interest from other European clubs, including AC Milan and Bayern Munich, but Ilic remains confident that LaLiga will be his destination.

Vlahovic is currently sidelined with a muscle tear following surgery in December to address a high-grade adductor injury. Ilic confirmed that recovery is on schedule and expects him back in action by March.

"The injury affected a very specific area, so naturally the healing takes longer," Ilic explained. "But with the medical team he has, we'll see him return soon."

As Vlahovic looks to regain form, a move to Barcelona could offer the fresh challenge needed to restore his career trajectory and recapture the goal-scoring brilliance that made him one of Europe's most promising strikers.