Corriere della Sera claim Max Allegri told Juventus management: ‘I’ve been the scapegoat, but luckily not for much longer.’ Allegri looks set to end his reign in Turin after three seasons with the Bianconeri, but there are now reports that he could be sacked, with just two games of the season remaining. Allegri reportedly confronted Tuttosport journalist Guido Vaciago and threatened to rip his ears off for some of the stories that were published in the newspaper.
Allegri might not be speaking directly, but his thoughts have been shared through today’s edition of Corriere della Sera (via CM.com). The quotes attributed to Allegri reveal a sense of relief as he anticipates the conclusion of his current situation: “Fortunately, this situation will be over soon. This year, I’ve been the scapegoat; let’s see who it will be next season. It was a miracle to finish the season with that standing.”
Allegri’s reference isn’t to the current season but to the previous one, during which Juventus achieved 72 points on the pitch, matching Inter. At that time, Allegri stood as the solitary pillar for the team amidst the turmoil of the Prisma investigation, which resulted in the resignation of president Andrea Agnelli and a complete upheaval of the club’s top management.
Given this backdrop, Allegri had expected to have significant input in selecting the new sporting director at the end of the season. He had favored promoting Giovanni Manna from the Under 23 team or hiring his friend Giovanni Rossi from Sassuolo. However, John Elkann’s decision to appoint Cristiano Giuntoli caught him off guard. According to Corriere della Sera, Allegri and Giuntoli have never seen eye to eye or trusted each other.
Tensions reached a breaking point during the January transfer window. Allegri had requested experienced midfielders like Giacomo Bonaventura or Roberto Pereyra, but Giuntoli instead brought in Tiago Djaló and Carlos Alcaraz. This divergence in transfer strategy highlighted the growing rift between the manager and the sporting director.
The relationship further deteriorated on February 4th when Inter won a critical match at San Siro. Around that time, Giuntoli met with Thiago Motta in Fiorano, signaling the beginning of the end for Allegri. While Allegri understood the club’s right to change managers, he had hoped for transparency and respect. Giuntoli publicly supported Allegri on television, postponing discussions about the future until the season’s end, but privately avoided the subject with the coach. Allegri believed Giuntoli should have also communicated clearly with the players, reinforcing that he would remain their coach until June and urging them to support him, lest their own positions be at risk.
Instead, as reported by Corriere della Sera, Allegri felt he worked through the second half of the season completely delegitimized in the eyes of the team. The constant tension consumed him, leaving him torn between the bitterness of leaving a club that had been like home to him and the relief of ending an ordeal that had taken a severe psychological toll, culminating in an eventual emotional breakdown.
