Juventus are considering a managerial change as they eye Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi to replace current boss Massimiliano Allegri. The potential move comes with a significant financial hurdle for the Bianconeri, as they weigh the costs and benefits of bringing in the highly-rated Italian coach to revitalise their struggling squad.
De Zerbi's impressive work at Brighton has not gone unnoticed, with several top European clubs, including Juventus, expressing interest in the highly-rated Italian coach. The Turin-based club is reportedly willing to trigger the €15 million (£12.8m) release clause in De Zerbi's contract to bring him to the Allianz Stadium.
The potential managerial change comes amidst growing pressure on Allegri, whose team has struggled in Serie A this season despite the possibility of winning the Coppa Italia.
If Juventus decide to part ways with Allegri, they would be required to pay a €7 million severance fee, bringing the total cost of the managerial change to a staggering €22 million when combined with De Zerbi's release clause.
This financial burden could prove challenging for Juventus, who recently reported a net loss of €95.1 million in the first half of the 2023-24 fiscal year. To address their financial woes, the club has announced a €200 million capital increase, but the substantial cost of acquiring De Zerbi and potentially dismissing Allegri may still strain their resources.
Allegri has expressed willingness to take a pay cut on his €7 million annual salary to extend his contract until 2027, but his future remains uncertain given the team's inconsistent performances.
Juventus are not the only club interested in securing De Zerbi's services, with Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United also reportedly keen on the Italian manager.
If Juventus ultimately decide to move on from Allegri, they may consider other candidates such as Thiago Motta, who has impressed at Bologna, or even a return of former manager Antonio Conte. The club must carefully weigh the financial implications and the long-term vision for success as they contemplate their managerial options.
The coming weeks will be pivotal for Juventus as they determine the future of their managerial position. The potential cost of parting ways with Allegri and triggering De Zerbi's release clause could have significant ramifications for the club's financial stability and their ability to compete at the highest level in Italian and European football.
As the Bianconeri navigate this critical juncture, fans and pundits alike will be closely monitoring developments, eager to see how the club addresses its managerial situation and whether De Zerbi will be the one to lead Juventus into a new era of success.