Juve want Allegri stay amid Arsenal rumours

MILAN: Juventus have urged Massimiliano Allegri to see out the remainder of his contract with the Serie A champions amid reports he could take over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

Allegri’s contract with Juventus ends in June 2018 and recently he has sent mixed messages about his future.

“We are very happy with Allegri,” Juventus director Beppe Marotta told Mediaset Premium minutes before Juve hosted Porto in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash in Turin.

“It seems wise for a club to continue working with a coach who has shown that he can lead the dressing room, as well as being a top tactician and a great professional.”

Despite expressing hopes last month of remaining with Juventus “for another 300-400 games”, the 49-year-old Allegri said a fortnight ago: “Speaking about my future is of little interest.

“What’s more interesting is for Juventus to go all the way, winning everything that’s possible to win.”

Allegri won the Serie A title with AC Milan in 2011 and steered Juventus to the 2015 Champions League final, albeit suffering a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona, in his first season in Turin.

Juventus, who boast an eight-point lead over Roma with 10 games remaining, are on course for a record sixth consecutive scudetto as well as a third consecutive league and cup double. They led Porto 2-0 from the first leg in the Champions League.