Juventus chief 'wants Antonio Conte as Massimiliano Allegri replacement'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 20 September 2022

Juventus chief 'wants Antonio Conte as Allegri replacement'

Juventus chief Pavel Nedved reportedly wants to bring Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte back to the club as Massimiliano Allegri's successor.

Juventus chief Pavel Nedved is reportedly keen to welcome Antonio Conte back to the club as Massimiliano Allegri's successor.

Following the departure of Andrea Pirlo, 55-year-old Allegri returned for another spell in the Old Lady hotseat after his trophy-laden stint in charge between 2014 and 2019.

Allegri took over at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, during which Inter Milan won the Scudetto, and the Bianconeri could only finish fourth last year as AC Milan clinched the title.

Juventus have also experienced a disappointing start to the new season, winning just two of their opening seven games in Serie A to sit seventh in the embryonic standings.

The Old Lady have also suffered back-to-back Champions League defeats to Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain, leaving them with a mountain to climb if they are to qualify for the knockout stages.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri on August 15, 2022 © Reuters

On Sunday, Juventus suffered a 1-0 defeat to newly-promoted Monza, and Allegri was forced to walk back to his car while being escorted by security guards.

Allegri remains under contract at the Allianz Stadium until the summer of 2025, but according to the Daily Mail, Nedved is keen to re-hire Conte.

The Tottenham Hotspur manager was in control of the reins at the Allianz Stadium between 2011 and 2012, and he made a quick return to Turin for another one-and-a-half-year spell until 2014.

Conte won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus but was understood to have been at odds with chairman Andrea Agnelli and felt that the 46-year-old did not properly back him in the transfer market.

The report adds that the Italian would have already returned to Juventus had Agnelli not been at the club, but the Bianconeri chairman may look to bury the hatchet with Conte given Allegri's poor start to the season.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte on September 7, 2022 © Reuters

Conte was initially tipped to make an early exit from Tottenham amid their struggles in 2021-22, but he ultimately led the Lilywhites back into the Champions League.

A meeting with Fabio Paratici convinced Conte to remain at the North London club, but his contract is only valid for another year, and his long-term future is still uncertain.

The 53-year-old reaffirmed his commitment to Tottenham back in May following a 3-0 derby success over Arsenal, telling reporters: "From the moment I came to the club — and in every club I worked in in the past — I go totally with my heart, mind and head. Totally. One hundred per cent and more.

"This is my characteristic. I'm a passionate person, I think I showed this passion. I like to go totally into the club where I work. I know that only in this way I'm able to give everything and to receive everything from my players, my club and the fans."

Conte has led Tottenham to five wins and two draws from their opening seven games of the new Premier League season, seeing them take up third spot in the table behind Manchester City and Arsenal.