Juventus GM Maurizio Arrivabene has defended releasing Paulo Dybala this season.

Juve pulled out of new contract talks with the Argentina star this week and announced he would be allowed to leave when his current deal expires in June.

Today, Arrivabene said: "When we spent that amount on (Dusan) Vlahovic investing in talent and age, it was clear but no one wanted to understand that someone should have left. In reality, more than someone.

"When certain statements are reported I have a laugh even if there would be little to laugh about.

"The theme of the free transfer, then, is played by some with suspicious and misleading sufficiency. To say, it is not true for (Gigio) Donnarumma but does it apply to Dybala? Free transfer means that the player's cost has been fully amortized.

"I also read that I would have been too unclear. By these messages in football code, it turns out that no one understands things that have been said clearly. For me Juventus comes first and foremost."