Vlahovic, Chiesa and Di Maria QUIT? Allegri loses Juventus dressing room

Carlo Garganese

• 2 May 2023 14:10 BST
• 5 min read

Juventus’ crisis on and off the pitch has deepened further following widespread reports that manager Max Allegri has lost sections of the dressing room.

Last week it was reported in La Stampa that Dusan Vlahovic was considering leaving the club in the summer if Allegri stays.

Vlahovic was Juve’s record January signing in 2022 for a fee of around €80 million but has been a huge disappointment in Turin.

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His performances in 2023 have been disastrous with no goals in nine games and just one goal and one assist in his last 16 matches.

Vlahovic’s entourage blamed Allegri’s defensive and outdated style of play for the Serbian’s decline.

It was also reported on Sunday evening by journalist Adriano Del Monte that Federico Chiesa is also considering leaving Juventus in the summer should Allegri be confirmed for next season.

Chiesa was considered one of Europe’s most exciting players two years ago, playing a key role in Italy winning Euro 2020.

However, since Allegri’s return to Turin in 2021, Chiesa has been a shadow of his former self.

Notwithstanding an ACL injury that kept him out for several months in 2022, Chiesa has underperformed massively under Allegri.

The Italian has no goals or assists in his last nine games and just two Serie A goals in the last two seasons - including none this term.

Del Monte reports that Chiesa feels a disconnect between himself and the club, with Allegri a major reason for that.

Chiesa has been left frustrated by repeatedly being played out of position, with Allegri often fielding him in unnatural roles at wing-back, in midfield and as a lone striker, rather than his preferred position on the wing.

— Carlo Garganese (@carlogarganese) April 30, 2023

Also on Sunday, Gazzetta dello Sport alleged that Angel Di Maria may have refused to play for Juventus in the game against Bologna.

Gazzetta reported that Di Maria suddenly claimed he was injured when he was told that he wouldn’t be starting the match, and thus wasn’t on the bench.

It is understood that like Vlahovic and Chiesa, Di Maria does not have a good relationship with Allegri. The Argentine's contract expires next month and is currently seems more likely than not that he will not renew.

It has also been reported that there is a senior mole in the squad that has been leaking news such as Di Maria’s to the media.

Young winger Matias Soule liked a comment on Sunday evening from a fan on Instagram calling for Allegri to be sacked, with the Argentine later apologizing and claiming he didn’t mean to do it.

Former defender and Serie A pundit Daniele Adani claimed on Tuesday that “there are no happy players at Juventus” under Allegri.

This circus has only further fuelled the desire from the majority of Juventus fans for the club to sack Allegri, with #AllegriOut trending for several weeks now on social media.

Allegri has been an unmitigated disaster since returning to Juventus in 2021, breaking a host of historical records.

Last season he oversaw Juventus’ first trophyless term in 11 years as the Bianconeri finished fourth and were knocked out in the Champions League in the last-16.

This season has been equally bad so far. The Bianconeri are on course for the same points tally and are battling to finish in the top four. They were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages with five losses from six and were defeated in the Coppa Italia semis by rivals Inter. Their only hope of salvaging the campaign somewhat is winning the Europa League where they are in the semi-finals.

While this is all going on, Juventus are also in an institutional crisis. The previous board, including president Andrea Agnelli, all resigned before Christmas with Juve under sporting and criminal investigation for a number of alleged financial misdemeanors.

In one case, Juventus were docked 15 points in the plusvalenze investigation, only to be provisionally be handed them back. A more serious case investigating alleged payments to players off the books is ongoing.

Juventus are also in a dreadful run of form, with just one win and five goals in their last eight matches in all competitions.

Allegri still retains the support of the club’s management but the pressure from fans has become almost unbearable in recent weeks.