Allegri doubtful about Di Maria and Rabiot renewals amid top-four battle

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri has admitted doubt about the contract renewals of Angel Di Maria and Adrien Rabiot, with the club battling for a place in the top four.

Both players joined Juventus on a free transfer, but their long-term future at the Allianz Stadium has been called into question as they will see their contracts expire in the summer.

Juventus hope to achieve a Champions League finish that will boost their economic situation, but there is still a lot of football to be played.

Di Maria has been a standout performer for the Bianconeri this season – although his statistics do not tell the whole tale – having clocked up eight goals and seven assists in 32 games across all competitions.

The World Cup winner’s importance in Allegri’s team cannot be overestimated, with the Italian giants plotting a grand slam finish to a troubled season.

Rabiot has also proven an important figure in the middle of the park, but the Frenchman has long been linked with a move away from Turin, with the club struggling to match his enormous wage demands.

Allegri addressed Juventus’ plans for the future in his press conference ahead of Wednesday’s league meeting with Lecce (via TuttoMercatoWeb). “I don’t know because we’ll think about next season when it all stops.

“Right now, we don’t know if we’ll play in the Champions League, which is the key to planning. We must only focus on what we have to do. 

“There are 30 days remaining until the end of the season, so we need to be focused, and then the club will make their assessments.”

Having seen their previous 15-point deduction overturned, the Bianconeri have been thrust into the thick of the top-four race with the Serie A campaign in the home stretch.

Allegri’s side are one of five teams going toe to toe for a place in next season’s Champions League, and they sit third in the Serie A standings, three points ahead of AS Roma, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

After dropping points in the 1-1 draw against Bologna, Allegri will be keen for his side to return to winning ways, having failed to win any of their last five games in all competitions.