Kris Boyd feels Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte returning to Juventus is a situation to watch. The Sky Sports pundit has also seen a change in the Italian’s demeanour of late.
He believes Conte’s attitude is worsening amid Juventus considering taking the 53-year-old back to Turin. The Bianconeri are struggling in Serie A under Massimiliano Allegri so far this season. They have also crashed out of the Champions League after five group stage ties.
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Allegri returned to the Allianz Stadium in 2021 to replace Andrea Pirlo on a four-year deal. But Football Italia reports some supporters are now urging president Andrea Agnelli to fire the €7m-a-year (£115k-a/w) tactician. But Agnelli has been public in his backing of Allegri.
Agnelli stated after his side lost to Maccabi Haifa that ‘Allegri is the coach of Juventus and he will remain as the coach of Juventus’, via Football Italia. But some reports continue to link Conte with a return after eight years away. He stood at the helm from 2011 to 2014.
The Daily Mail suggests Juventus vice-president Pavel Nedved wants to poach Conte from Tottenham. But it adds that the Italian and Agnelli have a fractious relationship. Conte quit over a feeling that Agnelli did not back him in the market, which has prevented any return.
Nonetheless, CalcioMercatoWeb reports Conte will want to take Son Heung-Min with him to Juventus if he leaves Tottenham to replace Allegri. The same publication has also more recently claimed the Spurs boss will also attempt to take Cristian Romero back to Serie A.
Tottenham boss Conte has shut down talk of a return to Juventus
Conte has shut down word of the Tottenham boss returning to Juventus to replace Allegri. The Italian stated last month that the links were ‘incredible’ and ‘disrespectful’ to the 55-year-old currently in the hot seat and also for his position in north London, via Sky Sports.
But Boyd has now stated on Sky Sports News (29/10, 14:44) that he has seen a change in Conte’s demeanour at Tottenham during recent weeks amid Juventus’ reported interest.
“I just get the feeling there’s been a change with Antonio Conte in the last few weeks,” he said. “I know he’s been linked with Juventus. But there’s been a change with him. I think the way that he’s coming across, like before he was aggressive in his press conferences.
“He was on the front foot, he was bullish in terms of the way he was speaking about his team. You listen to him now and it’s just like, ‘whatever happens, happens’. For me, I would keep an eye on this one with him potentially going back to Juventus.”
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