Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri revealed that he was pressing for a contract with Real Madrid before the Old Lady called him back last summer.
Allegri was sacked by the Bianconeri in 2019 after winning 11 trophies in five seasons. Two successive substitutes, Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo were not as successful as the club had expected.
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“It was the right time. I could have come back earlier, but I didn’t for personal reasons,” Allegri told the magazine GQ.
“My mother died in 2018, so I didn’t want to go too far. I remain close to my son Giorgio and my father, who were deeply shaken by the death of my mother. He still lives in Livorno,” said the 54-year-old tactician.
“I decided to return to Juventus because I have a strong bond with the club and the owner. Apart from that, I was also able to stay close to my son, who lives in Turin with his mother. I want to be close to the people I love,” he added.
Real Madrid is one option for Allegri’s future and the Tuscan coach has made it clear he has refused to move to the Bernabeu twice.
“I signed for Madrid last summer, but I called the president to say I was not leaving because I had chosen Juventus. She thanks him. When they called me in May, I had no doubts,” said Allegri.
“I have no regrets, although it would have been a great coaching career: Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid…but you can’t have everything in life,” said the former Cagliari coach.
“I am proud to have coached Milan for four years and to be at Juventus now. I turned down Real Madrid twice. The first time I was in talks about a new contract with Juventus. I told Florentino [Perez, presiden Real] that I am committed to Agnelli,” he concluded.
In this second period at Juve, Allegri is contracted until 2025 and becomes the highest-paid coach in the Italian Serie A for a fee of €9 million per year.
Juve have had a slow start to the season after Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Manchester United. However, now the white-and-black team is unbeaten in the last 16 league matches and sits fourth in the standings.
Nearby, Juve will host their arch-rivals Inter Milan in the 31st Serie A giornata at the Allianz Stadium, Monday (4/4) early morning WIB.
