Juventus’ announcement that Massimiliano Allegri will leave the club in the summer came as something of a surprise.

The Italian club confirmed on Friday that they will move on from Allegri, one year before his contract was due to expire.

Allegri, 51, enjoyed five trophy-laden seasons in Turin. But reports of feuds with club officials - including sporting director Fabio Paratici and vice-president Pavel Nedved - led to his early exit.

The search is now on for a replacement. Allegri is backing the Old Lady to hire a “great” coach, to match the club’s status.

“The name of the next coach? That I don't know, someone needs to be on the bench, but I don't know who," he told Italian TV programme Striscia La Notizia, per the Mirror.

"In any case they will choose a great coach because Juve is a great club.”

One man currently looking for a job is, of course, Jose Mourinho.

Ronaldo wants Mourinho in charge

The Portuguese coach has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in December.

And of the current vacancies, Juventus - a club with ambitions of winning the Champions League - has to be the most appealing.

Interestingly enough, Mourinho reportedly has the backing of someone who has plenty of influence at Juventus - Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a report cited by Marca, La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Ronaldo has put the 56-year-old’s name forward for the job.

Ronaldo and Mourinho worked together at Real Madrid and, while things didn’t end well between the pair in Spain, they have apparently patched things up.

Jorge Mendes, who represents both Ronaldo and Mourinho, also approves of the former Chelsea boss joining Juventus.

Mourinho may have more relationships to fix before he gets the Juventus job, though.

The last time he was at the Allianz Stadium - in November 2018 - he taunted the home crowd by cupping his hand to his ear after defeating Juventus in the Champions League with Manchester United.

An apology may be in order, Jose.