According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is interested in taking over at Benfica, and contacts between the two parties have begun.
Benfica has recently parted ways amicably with their coach Roger Schmidt, leaving a vacancy in the managerial position. Many renowned European coaches are interested in this opportunity, including Allegri. It’s reported that Allegri’s agent, Giovanni Branchini, was spotted in Lisbon yesterday. The purpose of his visit was to meet with senior officials from Benfica, which is seen as evidence of substantive contact between the two parties.
If Allegri ultimately joins Benfica, it would be his first coaching experience outside of Italy. Previously, Allegri served as head coach for Juventus and AC Milan, winning six Serie A titles, five Italian Cups, and three Italian Super Cups. Additionally, there are rumors suggesting he is close to returning to Milan, as current Milan coach Fonseca is facing a severe crisis of confidence.
According to the schedule, on January 29th of next year, Benfica will face Allegri’s former club Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.