Former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri remains without a job since leaving the Bianconeri in summer 2019. On Monday, the Italian has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to manage Real Madrid in the past.
Five-time Serie A winner with Juventus Max Allegri has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to sign for Real Madrid in 2018. The Italian tactician cited his loyalty to the Turin club as the key reason for snubbing Los Blancos.
When Real Madrid called me three years ago, I had promised to Juventus that I would remain. That’s the only one I turned down,
Allegri said in an interview with Sky Sport Italia.
Allegri left Turin in summer 2019 after a five-year spell that saw Juventus win five consecutive league titles and four domestic cups. The Old Lady has since appointed two managers in two years – Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo – with the latter currently in charge of the main team.
Pirlo has come under immense public scrutiny due to the club’s failings this season. Juventus are out of the UEFA Champions League already and are facing the prospect of losing the Serie A crown to Inter Milan for the first time in a decade.
Nevertheless, Allegri has thrown his support behind his former disciple while remaining coy about a possible return to Italy in the future.
It’s impossible to tell [regarding a return to Juventus], besides, Andrea Pirlo is there now and in my view, he’s doing well,
Allegri remarked.
I don’t know what Juve are missing. They are in the Coppa Italia Final, won the Supercoppa, and are fighting for the top four. The Champions League is a bit of a lottery, it can turn on a sixpence.
Juventus are currently third in the Serie A table, level on points with Atalanta but with a game in hand over Gian Piero Gasperini’s men. On Sunday, Filippo Inzaghi’s Benevento shocked the reigning champions with a 1-0 away win thanks to Adolfo Gaich’s goal, which left Juve 10 points behind first-placed Inter Milan.
