Juventus have reportedly hired former boss Massimiliano Allegri amid links to Real Madrid. Massimiliano Allegri’s arrival could seal the stay of Cristiano Ronaldo while effectively ending the torrid reign of Andrea Pirlo as Juventus boss. The appointment might help the club fight in its uphill battle of winning the elusive Champions League next season.
The task of keeping Ronaldo has been a cumbersome affair for the Old Lady, particularly in the last couple of seasons but could things play out better this time, or is it a reflection of a past mistake that could repeat itself?
Allegri’s Arrival Could Seal Ronaldo Stay
Years of Success
Massimiliano Allegri managed the Juventus first team between the years 2014 and 2019. He captured a mouth-watering five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias, and two Super Coppa Italiana trophies during his tenure. Despite the success, he was unable to quench the thirst of the Juventus fans and officials who were persistent on ending their close to a two-decade-long wait for the Champions League title. Ending the wait for European glory was never a simple task given the superior nature of other clubs, so they contemplated doing the extraordinary.
The Signing of Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite the domestic success, the Italian giants failed to meet the standards required to aim for European glory, particularly towards the end of Allegri’s time. But things were not always bleak, as they reached the Champions League in the seasons 2014/15 and 2016/17, only to lose to a formidable Real Madrid and Barcelona team that possessed the most sought-after stars. To make up for the gulf in quality, Juventus completed the record-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. The signing was a statement of intent that stole the headlines and made the club a favourite for the Champions League title overnight. The fun soon turned into misery as two-time Champions League winners got knocked out by potential semi-finalists Ajax in an intense showdown. In the aftermath, the former AC Milan manager faced the sack.
The Search For Potential Suitors
The hunt began for a new manager ended with Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri taking over the reins. The former Napoli manager was stifled with expectations but ended the campaign with Juventus’ ninth Scudetto in a row. After Juventus faced another defeat in Europe’s most prestigious, Sarri let go at the end of the campaign. Former Juventus player and legend Andrea Pirlo was appointed the manager for the 2020/21 season despite having been given the role of a youth team coach days prior. In the 2020/21 season, the club took on a new chapter which ultimately resulted in chaos and sacking for Pirlo.
Allegri Returns
The exit rumours of the Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane fuelled the arrival of Max Allegri at Madrid. The club president Florentino Perez’s delay in making the decision meant that the former Serie C coach had to look elsewhere to end his two-year hiatus from work. He was not short of jobs as Inter Milan, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain expressed their interest in signing him but decided to go the other way by joining Juventus, who outbid all of them in the process.
Allegri’s Arrival a Catalyst For Ronaldo Stay
Repeated European failures under various managers led Cristiano Ronaldo to hint at an exit from the club. A move back to his former club Manchester United was on the cards, but Allegri’s return could potentially convince the 36-year old to see out the final year of his contract. Although Allegri failed to deliver in his only season with Ronaldo, some signs point towards a possible glory. The presence of youth, including Weston McKennie, Matthijs De Ligt, Merih Demiral, Dejan Kulusevski, and Federico Chiesa, could further help the cause.
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