Roberto Mancini, who has been out of the sport since parting ways with the Saudi Arabia national team last December, would initially join the Bianconeri on a four-month deal that includes taking charge for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup finals in the United States.
If there is any truth from Tuttomercatoweb that Mancini will take over from manager Thiago Motta, who is likely to be given the push if Juventus fail to beat Genoa in Serie A action inside the Allianz Stadium on 29 March, then the club appear to be in safe hands.
Under-fire Motta has only been in charge since last summer, but his three-year project appears to be failing. Fans and pundits have constantly questioned his suitability, although he has been constantly strongly supported by sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli who hand-picked the former Bologna boss.
Meeting about Juve's direction
The club owner John Elkann met CEO Maurizio Scanavino and Giuntoli yesterday to discuss Juve’s short- and long-term future, which includes a potential new home for Juventus.
Since these talks, ex-Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was splashed across social media and today it is transpired that Mancini has agreed to join Juventus.
With Champions League qualification at stake, Juventus sit outside the top four and are one of six sides chasing fourth place at the end of the season that would guarantee a berth in Europe’s elite club competition.
Nine clubs chase four Champions League places
The Scudetto is down to a three-club race between Atalanta, Inter Milan and Napoli, so other teams are fiercely chasing the last Champions League position.
With Motta’s results being so inconsistent throughout the campaign, Juventus appear to believe that a managerial change is necessary to snatch the all-important Serie A fourth place.
The report about Mancini claims that he has accepted a four-month deal, with the option to extend for the 2025/26 season on the proviso that he secures Champions League soccer.
Serial winner Mancini
The 60-year-old has been in the international arena in recent years. His last trophy was the 2020 European Championship with Italy. He resigned to take over Saudi Arabia, where he earned €23 million (US25m) a year. However, he left after clinching just seven wins from 18 competitive games.
Mancini’s glittering managerial career followed on from his stellar playing days. Apart from his Saudi Arabia failure, he has consistently delivered the goods wherever he has been.
He won a hat-trick of Serie A titles with Inter Milan, with his last club silverware the 2013/14 Ziraat Turkey Cup when he was Galatasaray boss.
Now it seems that Mancini has been given the opportunity to bring the glory days back to Juve, with Motta expected to be given the boot when he next fails to pick up maximum points in Serie A.