Massimiliano Allegri and Juve staff met on Thursday at the Transfer Market Summit, where the future of Cristiano Ronaldo is at the top of the topic list.
Allegri began planning his first year
Juventus made the decision to fire Pirlo last week after the team’s disappointing fourth place finish in Serie A, with Inter finishing their nine-year trophy retention. Massimiliano, who previously served as head coach at the Allianz Stadium between 2014 and 2019, was quickly drafted to replace Andrea Pirlo, and has already begun planning his first year in the dugout.
Cristiano is exploring his options
Cristiano Ronaldo has been heavily involved with Turin’s departure in recent months, with the speculation that the Bianconeri are ready to cash in on the price asset before becoming a free agent in 2022. Juventus officials are convinced the Portuguese is exploring his options ahead of the summer transfer window. Massimiliano is keen to resolve the situation as quickly as possible as he seeks to unify the squad ahead of next season, with Paulo Dybala’s future being factored into the equation as well. The Argentine is also now in the final year of his contract, but Juventus is determined to tie it to new terms and is currently in renewal negotiations with his agent. Massimiliano enjoyed a strong relationship with Paulo during his first period at the club and is eager to see him emerge from Cristiano’s shadow.
Allegri prioritizes
Massimiliano prioritizes midfield reinforcements in the transfer window, and has given Juventus the green light to make an approach for Sassuolo star Manuel Locatelli. The 23-year-old has also been linked to a move to the Premier League following an impressive 2020-21 campaign at the Mapei Stadium, but the Bianconeri are set to formalize their interest in the coming weeks. The possible return of Miralem Pjanic was also talked about at the meeting, with the Bosnian midfielder enduring agonizing time at Camp Nou since leaving Turin last summer. Miralem has always been a big fan of Allegri and would welcome the chance to work with him again, but Juventus will only consider the loan agreement at this stage.