London: Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri gave the strongest hint yet that he wishes to return to Italy and probably take the Juventus job by saying he misses his friends and elderly parents.

The 60-year-old former Napoli coach has been strongly linked with the Juventus job left vacant after Massimiliano Allegri resigned following a highly successful five year spell in charge which included five league titles, four Coppa Italia’s and reaching two Champions League finals.

Sarri, who unusually for a top football coach came to the sport after a successful career as a banker, has enjoyed a fine end to a rollercoaster season with Chelsea.

He failed to win over a section of fans but still guided Chelsea to the Europa League trophy, third place in the Premier League and lost to Manchester City on penalties in the League Cup final. The ex-Napoli chief is aware that next year will be potentially tougher with the likely departure of playmaker Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and the club coming under a UEFA transfer ban and unable to find a replacement.

But the pull away from London is largely personal, explained Sarri “For us Italians the call of home is strong,” Sarri told Vanity Fair.

“I feel that something is missing. It has been a heavy year. I begin to feel the weight of distant friends and elderly parents I rarely see.

The manner of Sarri’s leaving will be far more cordial than that of his Italian predecessor Antonio Conte, who pursued Chelsea over his sacking and was awarded a reported £9 million at a Premier League tribunal last month.

Sarri, though, does not believe if he takes the Juventus job it will upset Napoli fans.

Agence France-Presse