Deschamps snubs Manchester United and waits for Juventus door to open

Didier Deschamps has refused to commit to Manchester United and is waiting for an opportunity at Juventus, according to journalist Guillem Balagué. The Red Devils, who are looking to replace Michael Carrick, are now turning to Mauricio Pochettino.

The former France manager, free since the end of his tenure with the national team — fourteen years and 187 matches in charge — has not closed the door on club football. But his choice of destination appears to be set: Serie A, and more specifically Turin. Balagué confirmed that discussions had indeed taken place with Manchester executives, before Deschamps ended negotiations, convinced that an opening at Juventus was possible in the short or medium term.

The link between Deschamps and the Old Lady is solid. An emblematic player for the club in the 1990s, he took over the reins in July 2006 for a rescue mission: bring Juventus back to Serie A after their relegation to Serie B in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal. Mission accomplished — the Serie B title secured in the first season — before he left the club in May 2007 to join Marseille.

The current situation in Turin could open a door for him. Under the direction of Luciano Spalletti, the Bianconeri are going through turbulent times: seventh in the Serie A standings after eleven matches, they are eleven points behind Lazio, the leaders, and are just two points away from a European place. Insufficient results that fuel speculation about the future of the current manager.

Deschamps, winner of the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, is therefore waiting. His return to a club bench will depend largely on how the Turin situation evolves in the coming weeks.