Real Madrid don’t always get their way. If they did, it would be Max Allegri in the hotseat and not Julen Lopetegui.
As it is, Juventus coach Allegri decided to stick around in Turin, admitting his word to president Andrea Agnelli counted for more than Los Blancos’ advances earlier this summer.
Juve ended up bringing a piece of Real to him thanks to their jaw-dropping move for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The acquisition of Ronaldo has doubtless solidified in Allegri’s mind that he reached the right decision, as he bids to end the Old Lady’s 22-year wait for the Champions League trophy.
“I said ‘no’ to Real Madrid because I made a commitment with the President,” the former AC Milan coach told magazine Stile Mese.
“Therefore, my maximum respect for Juventus and given word were why I rejected the call of Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world and the dream for every coach.
“I’d be a hypocrite if I said I wasn’t honoured by their consideration, but I’m absolutely convinced that I made the right decision.
“Am I a ‘bandiera’ like Buffon or Del Piero? I absolutely don’t want to be equated with them because they’re players who wrote Juventus’ history, whereas I’ve only been here for four years.”
