Former Juventus winger Romulo reveals Massimiliano Allegri once fined Paul Pogba because the Frenchman had been listening to music too loudly and claims some Bianconeri players wanted the Livorno-born coach out shortly after his first appointment in 2014.
Romulo spent one season on loan at Juventus in 2014-15, in Allegri’s first-ever season at the Allianz Stadium. The Tuscan tactician was appointed to replace Antonio Conte who had suddenly left the club one day into the 2014-15 pre-season.
Romulo, who also played for Fiorentina, Verona, Genoa, Lazio and Brescia in Serie A, said Allegri once fined Pogba even if the Frenchman had scored a decisive goal in a victory against Sassuolo just one day earlier.
“I remember this away victory against Sassuolo and that Pogba was listening to music with his headphones, but the volume was so high that everyone inside the dressing room could hear it. Allegri fined him €20,000 the following day even though he scored an amazing goal. It’s something that would never happen in Brazil,” Romulo told IFS TV on Twitch, as quoted by Ilbianconero.
The former Brazilian winger also revealed some Juventus players were not happy with Allegri’s approach and wanted him out in his first months in charge.
“I played under Allegri in his first season at Juventus and it was amazing,” said Romulo.
“However, some players were angry in the first month. They said: ‘he has to go, this is not good’ because they were accustomed to Conte. However, after three months, they regretted saying those things. They realised he [Allegri] was an empathic person who knows how to manage the dressing room and has clear tactical ideas.”
Juventus won a Serie A title, a Coppa Italia and reached the Champions League Final in 2014-15, in Allegri’s first season at the club and Romulo’s only campaign in Turin.
The former Brazilian winger returned to Hellas Verona in the summer of 2015 after making just five appearances with the Old Lady.
Maybe these things should stay in the Dressing Room.