With Atalanta, AS Roma and Juventus among the Italian top-tier clubs on the lookout for a new head coach to tackle the 2025/26 Serie A campaign, Pioli’s current sticky situation may prompt a quick deal.
The 59-year-old, who left his role as AC Milan manager last season, appears to be on the brink of being sacked in the Saudi Pro League. His Al-Nassr side have drifted out of the title race, but there’s also the major concern of his ongoing rift with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Pioli joined Al-Nassr in September and made an impressive managerial start, but the club currently sit third some 10 points behind table-topping Al-Ittihad. The fiery Italian has only picked up two victories from their past five matches, and is under the cosh.
Unhappy superstar Ronaldo
Yet there’s also a friction between Pioli and Ronaldo. The Portuguese ace, who earns an annual salary of €207 million (US$224m), was surprisingly hauled off when Al-Nassr were leading Al-Kholood 3-0. Ronaldo had opened the scoring, and his side triumphed 3-1.
There has been tension between the pair since the controversial substitution on 14 March. Unless the professional relationship can be repaired, then Piolo is likely to get the boot despite Ronaldo’s current contract expiring this summer.
A Pioli exit would pave the way for the journeyman head coach to return to the Italian top flight. He has been the boss at 13 clubs in his native country, which include stints at AC Milan, Inter Milan and Lazio.
Serie A suitors
Atalanta are aware that manager Gian Piero Gasperini will leave at the end of the season, with the 67-year-old of interest to both AS Roma and Juventus.
Current AS Roma head coach and ex-Juve boss Claudio Ranieri is moving into a different role at the club next term, and has been assigned with finding a replacement. Pioli is among the names on his wishlist.
Juventus have former player and ex-assistant coach Igor Tudor at the helm until the end of June. He won his first game in charge, beating mid-table Genoa 1-0, and has eight more Serie A games to navigate.
There will be talks between the Juve hierarchy and Tudor when the league season ends, with a potential option for the former center-back to sign a contract as the Bianconeri head coach for the 2025/25 campaign. Although Pioli, another former Juventus fan favorite, could well take over the reins.