Massimiliano Allegri reveals he rejected Real Madrid before Juventus return

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has provided a host of updates on players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Giorgio Chiellini and Paulo Dybala as well as confirming he rejected Real Madrid.

The newly re-appointed Juve boss has completed his first news conference since taking the reins at the Allianz Stadium following his 2019 departure, and he provided more than his fair share of revelations.

Just about every big club in Europe has been on the hunt for a new manager over the past few months, with Real Madrid one of those looking for a new boss, and Allegri has confirmed he rejected Los Blancos in favour of a return to Turin.

“I turned down Real Madrid proposal to be the new manager, yes," he said as reported by the club's official social media account. "I want to say thanks for the opportunity but I love Juventus.

"There are many great potentials, on which we will work every day. I chose Juventus, and for me it is a great responsibility. I am very grateful for the Club, which has given me the opportunity to return to coaching and to win."

Given Juve's ongoing financial woes, a number of their key players' futures are currently up in the air, though Allegri took the opportunity to assure the club's fans he has no intention of losing his star men.

Rumours have circulated that Juve could look to offload Ronaldo in a bid to ease the strain on their wage bill, but Allegri rubbished such talk and claimed the Portuguese superstar will be crucial to their 2021/22 campaign.

"Cristiano is a great champion and an intelligent guy," he said. "Yesterday I spoke to him - as I did with everyone else - I told him that this is an important year and he has a greater responsibility, because the team is young."

Chiellini is currently a free agent after his deal with the Old Lady expired while away on international duty with Italy, and Allegri confirmed the situation is in hand and that a deal will be completed once the Euro 2020 winner returns to club duty.

"I spoke to him [Chiellini] a few days ago," he said. "I didn't let him interrupt his holidays to come and sign a contract, after 20 years together, it's not a problem."

"There are many youngsters here, they will be an added value and the future of the club. Then there are the more experienced, like Chiellini, Bonucci and Ronaldo, who will be examples for the youngsters."

Dybala is another whose future has been called into question of late after the Argentina international failed to agree fresh terms at the club, though, as with Ronaldo and Chiellini, Allegri seemed to suggest he would remain at the club.

"Paulo arrived when he was a kid," he added. "Now he is a man who realises that this is an important year for him. He has extraordinary plays, I expect a lot from him."