Why Allegri could be ahead of Pochettino and Klopp for Real Madrid job
The key reasons why the Italian could be the next coach at Real Madrid, including his gentleman's agreement with Juventus and his feeling his time at Juve is up...
Real Madrid continue to analyse the market as they seek to replace Zinedine Zidane afer his shock resignation as head coach. The club's first choice, Mauricio Pochettino, made it clear he was interested, but signing the Argentinean means convincing Tottenham president Daniel Levy, who has no intention of making it easy for Real Madrid to nab their coach who signed a new contract only last week, running to 2023, and with no buy-out clause. Madrid are still expected to try (though some sources say he's been taken off the club's list of candidates), but the situation looks very, very difficult.
Jürgen Klopp is another name Madrid are considering. He would be the first choice of the Real Madrid fans, but he's under contract until 2022, and prising him from Anfield would cost around 32 million euros, if (and it's a big if) Klopp could be persuaded to head to the Spanish capital.
In recent days the name of Maximiliano Allegri has started to be taken very seriously. Sources in Italy have confirmed that Real Madrid have been in touch with Juventus to discuss a potential move for the 50 year old, who figured in Florentino Pérez's plans in 2015. Here are some of the reasons why Real Madrid may decide to move for Allegri:
Allegri's gentleman's agreement with Juventus
According to sources consulted by this newspaper, unlike Pochettino at Tottenham and Klopp at Liverpool, Allegri has a gentleman's agreement in palce with Juventus, allowing him to leave if he receives an irresistible offer, always provided it doesn't come from another Serie A club. That doesn't mean Real Madrid wouldn't have to negotiate with Juventus (Allegri is under contract to 2020, with no buy-out clause), but the relationship between the clubs is excellent, and it's likely the two entities would reach a financial agreement for the move.
End of a cycle for Allegri
Allegri feels that his time at Juventus is up, something that isn't the case with Pochettino (just renewed till 2023) and Klopp (under contract till 2022). Allegri moved to Juventus from Milan in 2014 and has won the Scudetto every year since. He's won four leagues in total (one with Milan), four Italian cups, two Italian Super Cups (one with Juve and the other with Milan) and has been chosen as the best coach in Serie A three times. Where he now wants to win trophies though is Europe, and that's his main motivation to move on, to seek success elsewhere.
Winning the Champions League
The Champions League is Allegri's obsession. And he's been close to winning it twice in the last four years, taking Juventus to the final in 2015 and 2017, but losing both. The first, against Barça, 1-3; the second, against Real Madrid, 1-4. But he remains desperate to win it, and the Juve board are well aware of that. Hence their reason to accept that Allegri could leave if a club that could give him a better chance of winning it came in for him. And right now it appears there's no better club for Champions League success than Real Madrid.
Real Madrid bosses like Allegri's profile
These three reasons have boosted the recent rumours of a Real Madrid move for Allegri, although the club have in no way ruled out Pochettino yet. But bosses at the Bernabéu like Allegri's profile. He's a young coach, with a sparkling career and used to managing out and out stars. And he likes to bring out the very best in the talent he works with. In an interview in La Reppublica he said: "The biggest error we're making as coaches is suffocating the creativity of the players, and without poetry, football is a computer game..." In Italy they consider he's more than experienced enough to take on the Real Madrid job. Galliani, former president of Milan, had no doubts when asked on Radio Montecarlo about Real Madrid's interest for the coach: "I'm not a fan of Juve or Real Madrid, but he has the preparation to coach any big team..."
