Ex-Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo ‘in talks with Turkish club Fatih Karagumruk’

Former Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo could make a return to management with Turkish club Fatih Karagumruk.

The Istanbul-based outfit – who have Italians Fabio Borini and Emiliano Viviano in their ranks – finished eighth in the Super Lig last season but have ambitions to climb higher.

Reports in Italy suggest they are the favourites to hire Italy legend Pirlo, 43, who hasn’t taken another coaching job since being sacked by Juventus in May last year.

Andrea Pirlo could make a return to management in Turkey a year after his Juventus sacking

Pirlo’s Juventus team won the Italian Cup but that wasn’t enough to save him from the chop

Pirlo guided Juventus to a fourth place finish in Serie A, earning qualification to the Champions League, and also won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.

But he was dumped to make way for the returning Massimiliano Allegri, who likewise led the club to a fourth-place finish last season behind the two Milan clubs and Napoli.

Fatih Karagumruk have finished in eighth position in each of the last two Super Lig seasons

Pirlo turned down the chance to take over at Serie A relegation strugglers Salernitana back in February but has always been open to accepting an overseas job.

Karagumruk were promoted into the Turkish top-flight in the 2019-20 season and have defied expectations they would struggle by finishing eighth in both campaigns since.