Chelsea agree deal for Maurizio Sarri to join Juventus
Premier League club Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle with Juventus for their manager Maurizio Sarri to join the Italian champions. As per reports, a deal was agreed on Thursday. The clubs have also agreed a compensation package in excess of £5m for Sarri, who had joined the Blues last season. Here are the details.
How did Sarri fare at Stamford Bridge?
Sarri arrived in London after replacing Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge. He led the side to a third place finish in the Premier League. The former Napoli manager also reached the League Cup final. He then led the team to the Europa League crown after beating Arsenal 4-1 in the final. That was his first career silverware as a manager.
How did the opportunity at Juventus arise?
Juventus parted ways with Massimiliano Allegri, who helped them win five Italian league titles in a row. It was a mutual decision between Allegri and Juve. Allegri is now set to take a year off from football. Juventus were keen to have someone who knew everything about Italian football. That's where Sarri came into the picture. Sarri had signed a three-year deal last July.
Chelsea have done well in the last few years
Sarri becomes the ninth full-time manager to leave the club under Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Prior to his arrival, Antonio Conte had led won the league title and the FA Cup across two seasons. Jose Mourinho had also won them the league in his second spell. The trophies have been coming, but it is the long-term prospect of managers which is missed here.
Frank Lampard set to replace Sarri at Chelsea: Reports
According to a report in Sky Sports, former Chelsea hero and current Derby manager Frank Lampard is set to be roped in as the new boss. The Englishman has an excellent rapport with the fans and the players and knows the system in and out. Chelsea have a two-window transfer ban imposed by FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A happy moment for all parties involved: Our take
Lampard will look to bring in that stability in a period where Chelsea cannot bring in new players. His knowledge of the youth system and the players will help the Blues. Fans will also be supporting Lampard. That's something Sarri never enjoyed. Meanwhile, Sarri's return to Italy is something he craved for after getting disillusioned in London. It's a winning situation for everyone concerned.
