FORMER Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly offered his services to Barcelona, as speculation mounts that Ernesto Valverde is about to be sacked.
The Italian has been out of work since leaving Juventus last summer but is keen on a return to the game.
Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly keen on the Barcelona gig
It was expected that the 52-year-old would wait until the end of the season for a new project.
But according to Mundo Deportivo, a figure close to Allegri has offered the six-time Serie A winner’s services to Barca.
Allegri has had a number of offers already to return to management, but has so far prioritised spending time with his family and learning English ahead of his next role.
The Barcelona job, however, would be too good an opportunity to miss.
Allegri’s arrival in LaLiga could be bad news for Manchester United, with the Red Devils thought to be eyeing him up as a potential successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Reports in Spain claim that Valverde is expected to be sacked by Barcelona today – despite them sitting top of LaLiga at its halfway stage.
The Camp Nou boss has won the title in both of his seasons in charge, but still there is a sense of inevitability about his future lying away from the club.
Barcelona legend Xavi has been linked with the position.
Ernesto Valverde is expected to be sacked imminentlyCredit: AP:Associated Press
The 39-year-old is manager of Qatari side Al-Sadd, having finished his playing career there.
But Xavi has reportedly turned down the opportunity to manage his boyhood club.
And his former team-mate Andres Iniesta criticised the club’s pursuit of Xavi.
He told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: ”What comes to my mind a little, if all this is so, is that the ways or how everything is being done is a bit ugly.
”I believe that respect for the coach that you have must always exist.
”In the end it is these ways that can hurt the most. The situation of the coach is very weakened.”
Former Betis coach Quique Setien has also been linked with the role – as well as popular ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
However, the Argentine, who managed Barca’s Catalan rivals Espanyol from 2009 to 2012, has previously said: “I’m never going to be coach of Barcelona or Arsenal because I’m very linked with Espanyol and to Tottenham.”
Ernesto Valverde to be sacked by Barcelona today with Roberto Martinez and Thierry Henry lined up as replacements
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
