Manuel Locatelli claims he takes pride in playing under Massimiliano Allegri after rejecting interest from Arsenal to join Juventus from Sassuolo this summer, via TuttoMercatoWEB.
The Italian Euro 2020 champion has been speaking to the media after completing an initial temporary transfer to the Bianconeri. He moves to the Allianz Stadium on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy for €25m (£21.4m), plus a further €12.5m (£10.7m) in add-ons.
Arsenal made concrete efforts to sign Locatelli earlier in the window, but his mind was only on Juventus. Calciomercato.it report the Gunners offered him €5.5m-a-year (£90k-p/w) and Sassuolo €40m (£34m) to join Mikel Arteta’s side. Yet he chose the Old Lady’s €3m-a-year (£49k-p/w) contract and never entertained any negotiations with the north London outfit.
Locatelli has now indicated one of the reasons why he likely rejected Arsenal for Juventus. Leaving Sassuolo, where CEO Giovanni Carnevali confirmed the Gunners’ interest in July, to join Allegri – having worked with him at AC Milan, before the coach left in 2014.
The midfielder said: “I had done two training sessions with the first-team [at Milan with Allegri]. “I remember some moments and being coached by him is a pride. I want to learn what I have to because I have to improve a lot.”
Juventus boss Allegri left big impression on Arsenal target Locatelli
Allegri must have left a monumental impression on Locatelli while the Juventus boss was in charge at AC Milan. The 23-year-old made 62 appearances for the San Siro outfit before moving to Sassuolo in 2018, but not a single one of his outings came under his compatriot.
Locatelli was still establishing himself in the Rossoneri academy in 2014 after stepping up to their U19s. Yet Allegri’s work in those early days still seemingly formed part of why Locatelli rejected Arsenal and joined Juventus. Even if it meant sacrificing millions of pounds a year.
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