Juventus confirm Massimiliano Allegri departure sparking manager roulette

Juventus, on Friday, announced that manager Massimiliano Allegri will leave the club at the end of the season. The 51-year old will part ways with the Italian champions after five years at the helm. 

Juventus have won five consecutive Serie A titles under Allegri, a period which also saw them lift the Coppa Italia four times. 

Failure to win the Champions League, however, has marred the historic club, whose last European triumph came back in 1996. Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was signed for a club-record fee of €112 million last year in order to help them finally win Europe’s most prestigious club competition after having reached the final twice in the last five years. 

Allegri’s managerial position has been in question since his team failed to qualify for the Champions League semi-final stage in April after a high-spirited Ajax team outplayed them over two legs.

A statement posted on the club website read: “Massimiliano Allegri will not be on the Juventus bench for the 2019-2020 season.

“The coach and the president, Andrea Agnelli, will meet the media together at tomorrow’s press conference – Saturday 18 May, at 2 pm in the press conference hall of Allianz Stadium.”

Pep Guardiola has been linked with the job at Turin since months now, but the Manchester City boss has assured he is staying with his current club after another splendid domestic season.

“How many times do I have to say? I’m not going to go to Juventus, I’m not going to move to Italy. I’m satisfied here, I’m not going anywhere. Next season I will be manager of Man City, I said many times”, Guardiola insisted.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has been labelled as the new favourite to take up the vacant role at Juventus next season after recent comments suggest he wants a new challenge.

“Winning the Champions League? It should be fantastic, no? Close the five-year chapter and go home,” the Argentine said ahead of Spurs’ second leg against Ajax at the beginning of the month.

“To win the Champions League with Tottenham in these circumstances this season, maybe I need to think about maybe doing something different in the future. Because to repeat the miracle, you know…”, he added.

According to Sky Sports Italia, France national team coach Didier Deschamps, former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi are also viable options for Juventus. Jose Mourinho, who was sacked by Manchester United in December, could also be a prime candidate to take up the mantle. 

Massimiliano Allegri could also see himself managing in the Premier League or Ligue 1 next season with Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain the possible destinations for the Italian.