Juventus have identified ex-Napoli and Italian coach Luciano Spalletti as the top contender for the managerial position following Igor Tudor’s sacking on Monday.
Tudor was relieved of his duties after the Bianconeri endured a barren run of eight games without a win. The recent defeat against Lazio proved to be the last straw.
The Croatian boss replaced Thiago Motta as manager in March earlier this year. He led the Italian giants to the Champions League qualification, prompting them to extend his contract until 2028.
Tudor has bitten the dust barely three months into the new season, leaving the Old Lady without a manager for the third time in less than 18 months.
The ex-Lazio boss has clearly failed to withstand the pressure of juggling between Serie A and Champions League commitments. He has recorded three wins, five draws and three defeats in 13 games.
Massimo Brambilla, the Juve Next Gen coach, will oversee Wednesday’s Serie A clash against Udinese, but the club are accelerating their talks to appoint Spalletti as the new manager.
Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio says Juventus have scheduled a face-to-face meeting with the former Roma boss to discuss the appointment and financial aspects of the contract.
They are willing to appoint him until the end of the season, with an automatic extension for possibly another year based on the club’s Champions League qualification.
Spalletti is also inclined to take the reins at Juve, having previously declined proposals from Fenerbahce and Qatari clubs.
The 66-year-old took Napoli to the historic Serie A title in the 2022/23 season, and Juve will be hoping for a similar impact if he joins them.
