Agnelli’s comments on Allegri appointment, Pirlo & Paratici departures

After being in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks after his actions regarding the Super League, Juventus President Andrea Agnelli spoke today about some changes that he’s made since the closure of a disappointing season that saw a record Scudetto-winning streak come to an end.

Andrea Pirlo and his coaching team were shown the door after just one season, in a manner not unlike how the previous regime of Maurizio Sarri the year before was cut short.

“I want to thank Andrea and his whole staff. If I have to analyse the season and read it was a failure for Juve, well… if in 10 years the biggest failure is winning two trophies and qualifying for the Champions League, then I’ll happily take that standard.

“What we certainly must do after this year is for everyone to learn from their mistakes. We didn’t always find the response we wanted to amid difficult moments.”

Massimiliano Allegri makes a triumphant return to Turin after two seasons watching football as a television analyst, with rumours continuing to circle that Agnelli was not responsible for his sacking and that it was orchestrated by Sporting Director Fabio Paratici and Vice President Pavel Nedved.

Paratici, who was present at the press conference, will be leaving the club at the end of this month, having outlasted his mentor and boss Beppe Marotta who subsequently joined Inter Milan two years ago and led them to the Scudetto this season.

“I want to underline the determination, hunger and desire to dive back in of Allegri and his staff. It’s a long-term project, the plans for growth continue.

“Maintaining that today’s choice is proof that we regret the decision made two years ago is simply untrue. At that moment, it was the right decision. At this moment, it is the right decision. They are not linked.

“I can also say that the decision to bring back Allegri was not linked with Paratici’s departure. I know them both well, they are great professionals, and if we had decided to work together, they would’ve focused only on winning.”

Agnelli commended Paratici for his hard work in his eleven-year tenure with the Bianconeri, expressing gratitude for achievements and even dropping in a surprise name who apparently Juve were targeting a few years ago.

“We look back from Gigi Delneri to Pirlo, with nine Serie A titles, five Coppa Italia trophies, two Champions League Finals. I think of the Under-23 team, the Juventus Women who won four Scudetti, two Coppa Italia editions and two Supercups. These were all achieved under Fabio’s leadership.

“I think of the players who came through under his tenure, such as Carlos Tevez, Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo. My only regret looking back is Robin van Persie, as we had dinner at my house and had visited him a few weeks earlier.

“I think Paratici arrived here as a lad and left as a man, above all as a winner. We met up in my office for a long chat at the end of the season and agreed it was a natural moment to close this chapter and open up another.

“On my behalf and all of Juventus, I say: thank you. Thank you, Fabio, for these fantastic years. Now don’t ever call me at 7.30am again!”