Juve or Barca for Lippi Tuesday 4 March, 2008
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World Cup winning boss Marcello Lippi is being linked with jobs at Juventus and Barcelona.
The Tuscan trainer has been on a sabbatical since leading the Azzurri to a famous victory over France in Berlin 18 months ago and is not short of suitors.
Barcelona and Juventus, both embattled after losses at the weekend, are, according to Italian website Controcampo, trying to tempt the 59-year-old out of his self-imposed exile.
Frank Rijkaard’s Blaugrana are five points adrift of Liga leaders and bitter rivals Real Madrid.
The Dutchman’s tenure looks increasingly precarious as dressing room disputes, indifferent performances and problems off the pitch continue to undermine Barcelona’s current campaign.
Rijkaard’s own longing for a break could also be influential in bringing Lippi to the Camp Nou, although there is a group of directors on the Barcelona board who would prefer Jose Mourinho.
A deal with Juventus is seemingly more likely. The defeat against Fiorentina has sent alarm bells ringing throughout the Bianconeri’s offices in Corso Galileo Ferraris.
The Old Lady’s directors are expected to hold a meeting to examine the club’s present and its future after Claudio Ranieri’s poor start to 2008, where Juventus have lost two of their last three games.
Questions have been raised regarding Ranieri’s ability to manage such a big club while Lippi’s supporters have been keen to assert the former Inter Coach’s tactical ability and Juventinità.
Bianconeri President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli and director general Jean-Claude Blanc already attempted to lure Lippi back to Juve last summer after Didier Deschamps resigned.
However, Lippi rejected what would have been a third stint at the club. “I don’t feel like it at the moment,” he said. “In the future we will see.”
Lippi led Juventus from 1994 to 1999 and 2001 to 2004, a total of eight seasons in which he won everything in Italy, Europe and the world.
The Juve link comes just hours after Milan President Silvio Berlusconi felt the need to reassure Carlo Ancelotti that his job was safe yesterday after telling reporters of his great respect for Lippi.