Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli insists they are ‘on track’ to achieve their objectives, will ‘sit down’ with Max Allegri at the end of the season and hints Giovanni Manna is pushing for a Napoli move.
The match with Torino kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
The Bianconeri had been in crisis, but seem to have turned a corner with a 2-0 Coppa Italia victory over Lazio and hard-fought 1-0 Serie A win against Fiorentina.
However, there continue to be reports that Allegri will be replaced at the end of the season, especially after holding company chief John Elkann wrote to shareholders this week and stated clearly that Giuntoli has the power to reshape the squad, never mentioning Allegri’s name.
“With regards to Elkann’s words, I was very flattered, it is strong motivation to always give more for this great club every day,” Giuntoli told DAZN.
It was noted that Giovanni Manna, who is one of Giuntoli’s assistants and heavily linked with a move to Napoli in the summer, is not at the stadium today.
“We are talking to Manna and trying to understand what his journey will be.”
Allegri doubts for future
Inevitably, most of the questions were over whether Juventus see Allegri remaining on the bench next season as well, amid clear splits in the fanbase.
“We are very concentrated on the present. At the start of the season we all set targets and we are on track with those objectives, including aiming to reach the Coppa Italia Final and maybe win it, qualify for the Champions League and get the best out of young players, lowering the costs.
“At the end of the season, there will be time to sit down and understand what the future of Juventus will be with clear objectives. That is what we did last summer. The coach has a contract, he is doing a great job and at the end of the season we’ll sit down to talk with him.”
Among the candidates mentioned in the media to replace Allegri are Thiago Motta of Bologna and even a return of Antonio Conte.
If Juve are to look at a different coach, will it not affect the transfer strategy that surely is already being worked on?
“We talked with the coach about many players for the future, but our budget will depend on Champions League qualification and if we manage to make player sales. There are too many variables right now to start planning the future of Juventus. We arrived in a delicate situation and it will require a little patience.
“Allegri has a year on his contract, he is doing important work with these players and every year a club sits down with its coach to talk things over.”
Kick Allegri out!