Juventus to cut short Pirlo experiment and reappoint Allegri – reports

Juventus will part company with head coach Andrea Pirlo and replace him with Massimiliano Allegri, reports in Italy said on Thursday.

Rookie boss Pirlo signed a two-year deal to take over from Maurizio Sarri as Bianconeri boss last August, but the 42-year-old failed to live up to expectations.

The former Italy playmaker failed to guide Juve to what would have been a 10th consecutive Serie A title and appears to have paid the price.

Italian sport dailies La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport both reported an agreement had been reached with Allegri.

75% – Massimiliano #Allegri is the #Juventus manager with the highest win percentage in #SerieA (75%: W142 D28 L20). Reunion. pic.twitter.com/aqAGwofCCP

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 27, 2021

Juventus edged into the Champions League for 2021-22 by finishing fourth as Inter won the Scudetto,

They tumbled out of this season’s Champions League in March at the hands of Porto, losing on away goals at the round-of-16 stage.

Allegri has been out of work since leaving the Turin giants two years ago, but he had been linked with Real Madrid before news emerged of the likely change at Juventus.

Juventus were champions of Italy in five consecutive seasons under the experienced Allegri.

They were beaten Champions League finalists with the 53-year-old at the helm in 2014–15 and 2016–17.

Allegri’s side also lifted the Coppa Italia on four occasions during his first stint with Juve.

Pirlo was promoted from a briefly-held role as Juventus under-23 coach, and although he won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, the admired former midfielder is set to be on the lookout for a new challenge.