Could Chelsea’s top managerial target turn them down?

Chelsea is targeting Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri to be their next manager. Would he accept the job?

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich certainly isn’t used to being told no. However, his chase to sign Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri to be the club’s new manager might well end with just that.

Worldsoccer.com reports that Chelsea has zeroed in on Allegri to take over at Stamford Bridge, but Juventus is determined not to give up their talented manager without a fight. In fact, Juventus General Manager Beppe Marotta has already told Allegri he should “think twice” about making the move to the Premier League.

Moratta has every right to warn Allegri about the dangers of moving to Chelsea. After all, Allegri has a pretty good gig at the Serie A club. The Old Lady are on a 14 match win streak and are still alive in four competitions. They certainly aren’t short of star power either with the likes of Pogba manning their midfield.

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Still, making the move to Chelsea will certainly appeal to Allegri. The Premier League club has one of the biggest budgets in world football and certainly can outspend the Serie A giants. Whereas Juventus has had to practice some budgetary restraint over the last several transfer windows, he’d be under no such restrictions at Chelsea.

At Stamford Bridge Allegri would be armed with a transfer budget to rival any club in the world. Roster changes wouldn’t just be possible, but rather expected at Chelsea. Abramovich will insist that improvements be made on a roster that currently has the Blues sitting 13th in the Premier League.

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Great expectations would certainly accompany that great level of investment though. Allegri would be on a short leash at Chelsea no matter what sort of contract he received. Juventus certainly isn’t a job without pressure, but he has a great deal of credibility there that would be difficult for him to give up. He could survive a bad month for the Old Lady whereas he will be under pressure after a bad week at Stamford Bridge.

Allegri will face the same sort of decision that’s faced many managers contemplating a move to the Premier League over the years. He’ll have to weigh his current job security against the possible fame and fortune of battling in what’s seen as the most competitive football league in the world. It’s certainly a choice he will make without a great deal of consternation and thought.

In the end, I think Chelsea and Abramovich might actually hear no for a change. It won’t be something they are at all used to, but it may very well be the right call for Massimiliano Allegri.