Maurizio Sarri has applied to take over the vacant managerial role at Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, as reported by 90Min.
If the 62-year-old banker-turned-coach had wanted the Spurs job a few seasons back, after transforming Napoli into perhaps the most beautiful footballing team in Europe (according to Mauricio Pochettino anyway), you’d think Sarri would have a few more backers among a sceptical Tottenham fanbase.
These days, following an underwhelming spell at Chelsea and just 11 months at Juventus, it is fair to say Sarri’s reputation is no longer quite so gleaming – even if he did secure Europa League and Serie A titles in his last two jobs.
90Min reports that, less than a year after being sacked by Juve, Sarri has put his name forward for the Tottenham job as he looks to bring an end to his near-year-long sabbatical.
If reports are to be believed, the one-time Empoli boss has already chosen his number one transfer target.
Corriere di Torino reported last week that, if Sarri does get the nod to take over from Jose Mourinho, he will look to spark a reunion with Paulo Dybala, the Argentine international who blossomed into Serie A’s greatest talent during a personal-best 2020/21 campaign.
“Dybala is world class,” Sarri said of the 27-year-old in 2019, via Football Italia.
Much of the frustration, at Chelsea and Juventus, surrounded Sarri’s plodding, possession-based, paint-by-numbers approach to football.
Which is odd, really, considering his Napoli side were thrilling and free-flowing when at their brilliant best.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
