Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri will only be chased by Juventus if SACKED suggests Juve chief
JUVENTUS sporting director Fabio Paratici has claimed the club are not targetting coaches who are contracted to other clubs, despite recent links with Pep Guardiola and Maurizio Sarri.
Extraordinary reports in Italy last week claimed that Manchester City boss Guardiola has agreed a four-year contract at Juventus and will be revealed as Massimiliano Allegri’s successor in early June.
The Spanish coach has consistently refuted links to the Old Lady this season, though, and a City board member branded the claims “codswallop”.
As that story seemingly fell flat, a large volume of reports then stated Chelsea manager Sarri is desired by Juve, and that he will switch west London for Turin this summer.
The 60-year-old has failed to convince Chelsea fans and chiefs that he is the man to take the club forward, especially with a lingering two-window transfer ban which will stop him from buying players to fit his specific philosophy.
We did not have any contact, we never even thought about it, because [Guardiola] is under contract
Although neither Chelsea nor Juventus have responded to the reports, the Italian champions’ sporting director seemingly ruled out a move for Sarri, unless his contract is terminated by the Blues.
"I think we live in a strange world," Paratici told DAZN when fielding questions on Guardiola.
“We did not have any contact, we never even thought about it, because [Guardiola] is under contract.”
Paratici’s words suggest the Turin club are only interested in out-of-work managers, which could be the case with Sarri if he ends up being sacked.
Both Sarri and Guardiola’s current contracts expire in 2021.
"It all seems very strange to me,” Paratici added.
"We have clear ideas, we have already said it, we are doing our evaluations, and there are still many competitions in progress.
"Until all the competitions end, it seems to me right, out of respect for everyone to remain in this situation."
Allegri leaves Juventus this summer having won five straight Serie A titles but coming short in two Champions League finals.
The club are intent on winning Europe’s elite competition and bolstered their chances by signing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
A shock quarter-final loss to Ajax ruined those dreams, though, passing the task on to the next manager to take the Juventus hotseat.