Massimiliano Allegri has admitted he had the opportunity to replace Zinedine Zidane but instead decided to commit his future to Juventus.
The Italian was one of a list of names linked to replacing the Frenchman in the Madrid hot seat – which has now been taken by Julen Lopetegui – along with a move to Chelsea.
“Let’s say I said yes to Juventus,” Allegri responded when quizzed by Sky’s Marco Nosotti over talks with Real Madrid.
“I spoke to the President [Florentino Perez] once, and I said that out of respect for the President [Andrea Agnelli], to whom I’d given my word, and Juventus I’d be staying at Juventus.
“It was a decision I’d already taken, and even if other things can happen in life I’d say that I made the decision to stay at Juventus and respected what I’d said, without considering other options.
“Let’s just say that the decision to stay at Juventus had already been taken, while thanking the ones who sought me out.
“I’ve always said that the President will be the first to know if I want to leave, and the President will have to tell me if he wants to make a change.
“The Juventus project is renewed every year, and every year is competitive. Then Juventus is one of the strongest teams in the world.
“In any case, Juventus have been among the best in Europe for the past four years and we think we can continue to better what we started four years ago.
“I’m very happy to do that, together with the President, together with [general manager Beppe] Marotta, [sporting director Fabio] Paratici and [Vice-President Pavel] Nedved and with all those who work at Juventus.
“Juventus is still an ambitious club, and the President even more so.”
