JUVENTUS could replace Andrea Pirlo with Max Allegri, according to reports.
Pirlo is under intense pressure and is said to be in line for the sack if his side fail to beat Napoli on Wednesday night.
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Juve are fourth in Serie A – level on points with fifth placed Napoli and 12 points behind leaders Inter Milan.
They also crashed out the Champions League to Porto and patience with Pirlo is running thin, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Club president Andrea Agnelli held talks with Allegri at the weekend.
And after nine Serie A titles in a row, the writing would be on the wall for Pirlo if he fails to beat Napoli at home.
However, with the club in a transition period, many have called for Pirlo to be supported.
Former Juve ace Fabio Cannavaro said: “Protect Andrea [Pirlo], look how [Napoli boss Gennaro] Gattuso has grown.”
Last month Allegri’s mentor Giovanni Galeone revealed the Italian – who was was Juve boss between 2014 and 2019 – rejected job offers from Arsenal and Chelsea.
He also also turned down approaches from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Galeone – whose own managerial career spanned 32 years and 16 teams – said: “The reason is simple: due to some serious family problems with his mother, he had to say no to major clubs.
“Max has said no to Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid. Now he wants to go back and he wants a first-class club. He also rejected PSG.
“He rejected Real because he had previously declined the clubs already mentioned. I said to him: ‘But how can you reject such an important club?’
“Max’s response surprised me: ‘I’m not a clown. If I said no to other clubs, I can’t accept another offer after only ten days, I’m not a clown.’
“Allegri is an honest man, a gentleman and a great professional.”
Chelsea were looking for Maurizio Sarri’s replacement in the summer of 2019 – with the Italian taking over from Allegri at Juventus – before appointing Frank Lampard.
And Mikel Arteta came in following Unai Emery’s dismissal at Arsenal at the end of the year.
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