‘Juventus more appealing now’

By Football Italia staff

Max Allegri believes the appeal of Juventus has grown, as he confirms Paulo Dybala will join in the summer.

The Bianconeri have secured four consecutive Scudetti, and this season have established themselves back among Europe’s elite by reaching the Champions League final.

“When you reach the Champions League final, especially when you’ve been winning for several years in Italy, it’s normal that the appeal of the team grows hugely,” Allegri told assembled media in his pre-Napoli Press conference.

“It’s normal that the players who are here want to stay here, and others want to come to Juventus.

“Juventus got to the final this year, but we haven’t every year, so we have to look at the other big teams. The goal is for Juventus is to be in the quarter-finals every year.

“After that you aim for a few finals or semi-finals, it all depends on the year.

“That means the appeal of Juventus will grow around the world, and especially in terms of players wanting to come here and not wanting to leave.

“As for Dybala, I don’t know how the deal went, but he’s a top player who will come to Juventus.”

Allegri was dismissed by Milan last season after Domenico Berardi’s four-goal showing against his side.

Does the same player’s hat-trick against the Rossoneri last Sunday cast the Coach in a more positive light?

“Four goals were a lot that night,” Allegri laughed.

“Last week it was close, but there was still a goal missing. Berardi is a player with good technical qualities, he’s one of those youngsters who will surely become a reference point for the national team.

“As for my own image, when you get results and you win, it’s only natural that your image will improve, particularly at European level.

“As for Milan, next year they’ll be competing for the top three, because I think this summer they’ll have a major transfer campaign, as it’s in Milan’s DNA.

“The big teams can’t keep not winning for years. This year has been the worst for Milan, because until last year they were in the second round of the Champions League, and missed out on the Europa League on the last day.

“In the previous years they were second and the other time first [under Allegri]. Sometimes you can have a bad year, but the culture and history of a club aren’t wiped out in a year.

“These big teams which are used to winning can spend one or two years without winning, but then they’ll return to competing for the top places, unlike teams which don’t have that in their DNA.

“Ancelotti? He’s a very good Coach, I don’t know what he’s planning to do, or whether he’ll return to Milan.

“I think when you look at his CV, with cups, Super Cups, big trophies, little trophies… I think his trophy cabinet is big enough.

“He’s a Coach who has proven how good he is, and he hardly needs compliments or advice from me.”

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