Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has signed a new deal keeping him at the club until the end of the 2016/17 season, with midfielder Claudio Marchisio also committing his future until 2020.
The former Milan head coach’s initial deal ran out next summer but he has been rewarded with an extension after leading the Bianconeri to the brink of a European treble last season.
Juventus cantered to Serie A glory by 17 points in Allegri’s first season last year and missed out on the club’s first ever European treble after heartache in the Champions League final against Barcelona.
Having officially confirmed Andrea Pirlo’s departure earlier in the afternoon, the Serie A giants were boosted by the news that Marchisio had decided to extend his stay at the Juventus Stadium, which would take him up to the age of 34.
“Claudio is living every child’s dream,” Juventus’ president Andrea Agnelli said in a press conference on Monday.
‘Claudio is already a legend, he’s already part of the museum, and though he’s not yet 30, he’s made over 300 appearances for Juventus, so he’s already among our greats.”
The 29-year-old’s importance to the team is likely to become even greater as he steps into the limelight left by Pirlo and last season saw the Italy international have one of his best in recent times. His six assists in Serie A amounted to the same number as he managed in the three seasons prior combined, whereas he also completed more dribbles per game (0.8) than he had done since the 2011/12 campaign (0.9).
