Antonio Conte is open to a return to Juventus, according to reports in Italy.
The current Tottenham boss previously led the Old Lady between 2011-2014, winning two Serie A titles in Turin before his departure. Since then Conte’s stock has continued to rise having led both Chelsea and Inter Milan to league triumphs with those in north London now feeling the benefits.
Max Allegri is currently the man in charge at Juventus, but with the Bianconeri sat in eighth, pressure is mounting – and that only increased when his side lost 1-0 to bottom of the table Monza at the weekend. Allegri is in his second spell in charge of the club, but if they do part ways then the club want to bring back Conte.
Juventus director Pavel Nedved has the current Tottenham boss down as his No 1 choice to fill any vacancy that should arise. The club are also optimistic that they could lure him back to his homeland with his contract in north London set to expire at the end of the season.
Conte has said he is willing to remain at Tottenham should he be sufficiently backed, which he was in the summer with the likes of Richarlison and Yves Bissouma arriving. The remit this term is top four and his side currently look well placed to do so.
Back in August he said: “I didn’t need to sign contracts for one, two or three years. I’m happy. We’re working really well together. It’s not that one year on the contract more or less can change the situation. For sure we want to continue to improve, to build something important for this club. If the idea continues to be in this way, there will be zero problems to continue my life in Tottenham.”
That said, the 53-year-old believes he has unfinished business in Turin having left under a cloud after falling out with chairman Andrea Agnelli regarding transfers.
Allegri has won just one of his last seven games and needed a police escort to his car at the weekend amid increasing anger from the club’s fans. Former Juve midfielder Miralem Pjanic has backed his old manager though, insisting his departure would not be helpful.
“A change would make no sense now. Allegri’s Juventus can turn things around, but everyone must reflect,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Nobody can be happy, starting with players. Allegri and his staff are doing their assessments too. The season is balanced and anything can still happen. Sometimes you have to face tough moments to experience the greatest satisfaction.”