FORMER Chelsea and Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has reportedly rejected the chance to take over from Andre Villas-Boas at Marseille.
The French club are in turmoil after sacking Sarri’s fellow ex-Blues boss Villas-Boas on Tuesday.
Maurizio Sarri has rejected the chance to manage MarseilleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Andre Villas-Boas resigned as Marseille boss in a press conference
Portuguese gaffer Villas-Boas – who also previously managed Spurs – publicly offered his resignation after criticising the Ligue 1 outfit for signing Celtic’s Olivier Ntcham.
The 43-year-old let it be known that he didn’t want to bring in midfielder but the club signed him anyway.
And Marseille quickly released a statement relieving him of his duties.
They also did not mess around when it came to sourcing a replacement with club chiefs keen on Sarri, 62, according to Sky Sports News.
But the wily old Italian is said to have rejected their initial advance.
Sarri reportedly does not want to return to management midway through a season.
And although there is a chance Les Olympiens may try again, it appears unlikely he will be tempted to move to the Stade Veledrome right away.
Villas-Boas’ dramatic departure came just days after Marseille supporters stormed the club’s Robert Louis-Dreyfus Centre training ground following their awful run of form.
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The ex-Porto manager told reporters: “I have resigned because I don’t agree with the sporting policy of the club.
“I said no to the signing of Ntcham. He wasn’t on our list. I had nothing to do with this decision.
“Ntcham is a player I said no to. I was not aware [he had signed], I learned it in the press this morning when I woke up.
“I’m waiting for a response from management, and if it’s no [to resignation], we’ll keep going.
“I don’t want any money, I just want to leave. I want to be clear with you. I don’t want anything from Marseille or Frank [McCourt].
“I gave my opinion for the replacement of Morgan Sanson but I can not accept, as a professional, that [not being informed].
“This has nothing to do with the weekend incidents. It’s just in relation to what I want on the sporting aspects and which was not understood.
“Even for Nemanja Radonjic, I was informed that very morning.
“I repeat, I don’t want any money I just want to leave. I want to be clear with you.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
