Allegri turned down Arsenal and Chelsea jobs due to 'serious family problems'

Massimiliano Allegri has turned down the manager's job at Arsenal and Chelsea since leaving Juventus due to problems with his mother, according to one of his friends.

Allegri left the Serie A champions in May 2019 having helped the Turin club claim their fifth Italian league title in succession.

The 53-year-old has however yet to return to management despite being linked with some of the most pre-eminent sides in the European game.

But former Udinese boss and Allegri's mentor Giovanni Galeone told Naples-based radio station Radio Kiss Kiss that he rejected the chance to take the hotseat at the Emirates Stadium or at Stamford Bridge, as well as at Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, due to family issues.

'The reason is simple: due to some serious family problems with his mother, he had to say no to major clubs,' Galeone said.

'Max has said no to Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid. Now he wants to go back and he wants a first-class club. He also rejected PSG.'

Galeone revealed Allegri's rejection of Madrid came after he had rejected the French champions and the Premier League duo, adding he did not want to look like a 'clown' by taking the job at the Spanish giants having only just turned down the advances of the other three sides.

'He rejected Real because he had previously declined the clubs already mentioned,' Galeone added. 'I said to him: ''But how can you reject such an important club?''

'Max's response surprised me: ''I'm not a clown. If I said no to other clubs, I can't accept another offer after only ten days, I'm not a clown.''

'Allegri is an honest man, a gentleman and a great professional.'

Chelsea are believed to have approached Allegri when looking for a replacement for the Italian's successor at Juventus - Maurizio Sarri - in 2019, while Mikel Arteta eventually ended up replacing Unai Emery at Arsenal after his sacking in December that year.

Real Madrid meanwhile brought current boss Zinedine Zidane back to the club in March 2019, while PSG were led by Thomas Tuchel between August 2018 and his sacking in December last year which brought about Mauricio Pochettino's appointment.

But Galeone revealed he is now itching to return to club football and is valued by Serie A side Napoli, who could part with under-fire boss Gennaro Gattuso at the end of the season following their Europa League exit.

'President Aurelio De Laurentiis loves Max very much and I know for sure there is mutual respect,' Galeone added.

'It would be a great idea to have [ex-Napoli boss Rafael] Benitez as technical or general manager.

'The Napoli bench is an important bench and Max wants to return only to an important bench.'