LONDON ̢ۢ Maurizio Sarri has admitted he would welcome a return to Italy after a "heavy year" at Chelsea, as Juventus edge closer to luring him back to the Serie A.
The Italian champions have met the former Napoli manager and his agent and are expected to buy out the remainder on Sarri's £5 million (S$8.7 million)-a-season contract to secure him as the successor to Massimiliano Allegri.
Despite Sarri's position having been tenuous earlier this year, Chelsea had no great desire to sack their head coach this summer after seeing him secure a third-place finish in the Premier League and win the Europa League in his tumultuous first campaign outside Italy.
Yet Sarri had made clear in a meeting with the club director Marina Granovskaia 48 hours after the triumph in Baku, that his preference would be a return home, citing a desire to be closer to his family as one of his motivations.
"For us Italians, the call of home is strong," said Sarri in an interview with the Italian edition of Vanity Fair. "I feel that something is missing. It has been a heavy year.
" I begin to feel the weight of distant friends and elderly parents I rarely see.
"But at my age, I only make professional choices.
"I won't be able to work for 20 years. It's hard work, the bench.
"When I return home to Tuscany I feel like a stranger. I have slept 30 nights there in the last few years."
The 60-year-old, who is in Italy finalising his move to Juve, would have no qualms about upsetting Napoli's fan base by taking up the reins in Turin.
"The Neapolitans know the love I feel for them," he said. "I chose to move abroad last year and not to go on an Italian team.
"The relationship will not change. Loyalty is giving 110 per cent when you are there.
"What does it mean to be faithful? And if one day the company sends you away? What are you to do - stay true to a wife you divorced from?"
His relationship with a vocal section of the Chelsea support fractured apparently beyond repair this year, with fans unimpressed by his team's style of play.
The club have since shortlisted the likes of Allegri, Laurent Blanc, Nuno Espirito Santo, Javi Gracia, Frank Lampard and Steve Holland as Sarri's successor.
Their choice will be influenced by whether the next stage of the club's development will be undertaken under a two-window transfer embargo.
Regardless of that ban, they are resigned to losing Eden Hazard, with further talks taking place with Real Madrid aimed at generating more than £100 million from the Belgian playmaker's sale.
THE GUARDIAN
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri By superliga On Jun 5, 2019 0 London (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri gave the strongest hint yet that he wishes to return to Italy and probably take the Juventus job by saying he misses his friends and elderly parents.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Maurizio Sarri
The confusing situation was made even less clear with conflicting reports about why that was happening, whether it was Sarri pushing for an exit, Chelsea pushing him out, or a combination of the two. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Sarri seems to confirm the idea that his desire to return to Italy is the primary motivation behind this whole
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri * 10z Soccer
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Maurizio Sarri Thursday, 6 June 2019 ( 2 days ago ) Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri gave the strongest hint yet that he wishes to return to Italy and probably take the Juventus job by saying he misses his friends and elderly parents.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri Sarri, who unusually for a top football coach came to the sport after a successful career as a banker, has enjoyed a fine end to a
Homesick Sarri hints at Italy return, but Juventus still
The manner of Sarri's leaving will be far more cordial than that of his Italian predecessor Antonio Conte, who pursued Chelsea over his sacking and was awarded a reported £9 million at a Premier League tribunal last month. Sarri, though, does not believe if he takes the Juventus job it will upset Napoli fans.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri - msn.com
Italy beckons for homesick Sarri - straitstimes.com
Homesick Sarri hints at Italy return, but Juventus still playing coy. Sarri indicates a swift return to Italy. By Sudip Majumder @studipm Jun 4, 2019, 8:30pm BST Share Tweet Share.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri - News
LONDON • Maurizio Sarri has admitted he would welcome a return to Italy after a "heavy year" at Chelsea, as Juventus edge closer to luring him back to the Serie A.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri
London (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri gave the strongest hint yet that he wishes to return to Italy and probably take the Juventus job by saying he misses his friends and elderly parents. The 60-year-old former Napoli coach has been strongly linked with the Juventus job left vacant after
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri - World
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/06/05/lure-of-italy-strong-says-chelseas-homesick-sarri/
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri AFP June 5, 2019 AFP No Comments London (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri gave the strongest hint yet that he wishes to return to Italy and probably take the Juventus job by saying he misses his friends and elderly parents.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri afp.com. 16 mins ago. Trump joins the Queen for D-Day anniversary. Russian jet intercepts US aircraft 3 times in 3 hours
Homesick Sarri hints at Italy return, but Juventus still