Reports in Italy suggest Pavel Nedved wanted to sack Max Allegri, but Andrea Agnelli and Maurizio Arrivabene thought otherwise, and it’s not the first time that Juventus directors have different views on the club’s future.
The Old Lady has only won two games out of nine across all competitions this term, losing two consecutive matches against Benfica and Monza. The club has decided against sacking their coach, although vice-president Pavel Nedved seemed eager to dismiss the 55-year-old after a poor start to the season.
Agnelli, on the other hand, confirmed his trust in the Tuscan tactician with a phone call, while Arrivabene had claimed before the defeat to Monza on Sunday that parting company with the coach would be ‘nonsense.’
It’s not the first time Juventus directors have had disagreements, and it is understandable, although Agnelli and his closest collaborators often have different views on crucial decisions for the club.
It all started when the Old Lady signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid in 2018. A deal strongly backed by Fabio Paratici who, at that time was Beppe Marotta’s right-hand man. The latter resigned a few months after Ronaldo’s arrival and is still on bad terms with the Tottenham director.
Agnelli re-organised the club after Marotta’s exit in November 2018, appointing Marco Re as Juventus’ CFO, Giorgio Ricci as their Chief Revenue Officer and Paratici as Chief Football Officer. Four years later, they’ve all left the club.
Paratici was also the man who pushed to sack Allegri (along with Nedved) one year later when Agnelli wanted to keep hold of the Tuscan tactician.
Eventually, the Bianconeri’s President agreed to part company with Max, hiring Maurizio Sarri, who he never really liked.
Despite his title winning-campaign, Sarri was sacked after just one season and that was mainly a president’s decision. Paratici was not convinced by Sarri’s successor Andrea Pirlo, but Agnelli took the matter into his own hands, firing the former Chelsea boss and promoting the ex-Maestro two weeks after his appointment as Juventus’ U23 coach.
Paratici eventually left Juventus in May 2021, two days before the club confirmed Max Allegri’s return in the dugout.
The Bianconeri will be looking for more stability on and off the pitch in the coming weeks. Allegri remains in charge, at least for now, but more disappointing results will likely convince Agnelli and Arrivabene to share Nedved’s view.
Nedved was a great player and unlike the failed former Ferrari director, he understands calcio. He was pivotal in getting rid of the Allegrisaurus Max in the first place, never wanted her back and sees the writing on the wall. If he had conviction, he would resign but like all things in life its all about the money. Better for the 7/9 to stick with PhD Allegrisaurus as the coma calcio is shaping up beautifully.