Pellegatti urges Milan to ‘protect’ Allegri from Italy talk: “Shouldn’t play with our intelligence”

Carlo Pellegatti has addressed the rumours regarding Massimiliano Allegri’s potential AC Milan exit to take the Italy job.

Italian football is in a state of shock once again after the national team failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup. The play-off defeat in Bosnia on penalties has led to calls of revolution once again, one that is underway with the exit of Gabriele Gravini and several staff.

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Gennaro Gattuso is also expected to fall on his sword as the head coach, leading to speculation about who might replace him. Allegri is the favourite alongside Antonio Conte, at least according to Sky, but there is also talk that Milan have absolutely no intention of losing the main man in their project.

Pellegatti’s strong response

On his YouTube channel, Pellegatti gave his take on the latest rumours linking Allegri to the national team. Rather than dismiss them, he expressed a certain worry that the club might not stand in the way.

“Let’s be clear so we don’t fall into misunderstandings: Milan must – and I feel sorry for the detractors who would like him to leave – be protected by Milan. Protecting means protecting with ideas, with projects, with strategies, and this means protecting Massimiliano Allegri,” he said (via MilanNews).

“And be careful, I’m being mischievous, given that Allegri is an important figure but also a burden for some: don’t use the excuse of letting him go to the national team. No, let’s be clear right away, we’re not naive here, they shouldn’t play with our intelligence.

“Allegri must be protected, and if you don’t want to do that, say you’re leaving him for the national team, not that ‘He wanted it.’ He’ll stay at Milan if there are clear plans, clear acquisitions, clear strategies.”