Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain 'wanted Massimiliano Allegri ahead of Mauricio Pochettino'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 28 December 2020

Paris Saint-Germain chief Leonardo was reportedly keen to appoint Massimiliano Allegri as their new manager before being put off by the Italian's wage demands.

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly wanted Massimiliano Allegri to become their new manager before Mauricio Pochettino agreed a deal with the Ligue 1 champions.

Following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, former Tottenham Hotspur manager Pochettino is reportedly set to take the reins at the Parc des Princes after over a year out of management.

However, Le Parisien reports that Pochettino was not PSG's first choice, and sporting director Leonardo wanted to appoint Allegri as Tuchel's successor before being put off by the Italian's salary demands.

The report claims that Allegri would have expected a yearly wage of £10.8m in the French capital - a mammoth salary which PSG were not willing to sanction amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Allegri has not taken on a new job in management since leaving Juventus, where he won five consecutive Serie A titles and guided the Old Lady to two Champions League finals in 2015 and 2017.

PSG thrashed Strasbourg 4-0 in Tuchel's final game in charge, with the defending champions currently third in the table - one point behind leaders Lyon.