Bergomi Headed to Manchester United?
Will he stay or will he go?
When ex-Barcelona star and super manager Josep Guardiola took the reigns at Manchester United following Fergie's inhumanly long and ridiculously successful time in charge, all the weight of the world fell onto the Spanish man's shoulders. Some people were surprised by the decision given Guardiola's muted success in his two seasons at Bayern, only managing to bring the Bundesliga crown home in 2015. However, his time at Barcelona and reasonable success in Bavaria proved enough to convince Chairman Alan Hubbard to give him a shot.
Fast forward to December of 2015. The Red Devils sit 6th in the Barclays Premier League having won only 9 of their first 17 games, losing 5 in the process, picking up a mere 1 point in their last 3 matches. Hubbard's decided that he's had enough, and Guardiola has been sacked. A number of high profile names are being linked with the United hotseat including Chelsea manager Luciano Spalleti and ex-France manager Didier Deschamps. The favorite, however, is current Inter Milan boss Giuseppe Bergomi.
Bergomi spent his entire footballing career at Inter, captaining the club as well as the national side in a glorious life in football. After enjoying retirement, 'Beppe', as the fans know him, returned to the Giuseppe Meazza to take the reigns of the Nerazzurri and has enjoyed brilliant success. Since signing in the summer of 2012, Bergomi has managed to win 3 consecutive Scudetto titles. The Inter Milan legend also has brought his side 7 cup wins including 3 Coppa Italia, 2 Supercoppa Italiana, 1 European Supercup, and 1 Europa League.
Bergomi is currently on a €35,000 per week deal until 2018 with his hometown club, but United are reportedly tabled a 5 year €75,000 per week contract offer as well as the opportunity to work along stars such as Andriy Yarmalenko and Brazilian duo Neymar and Dede. Even more tantalizing are talks of a €100,000,000 transfer kitty and €700,000 in free wages for Bergomi to splash out and shape his own squad in the upcoming January window.
Bergomi poured gasoline on the flames of his rumor, telling the press, "Manchester United are a really fantastic club and it is a great honor for me to be linked with that job. However, I want to be a consummate professional and don't want to talk about contracts and all that nonsense. We will see what happens." Regardless of if Bergomi leaves the Giuseppe Meazza for the Theater of Dreams or not, this miniature manager saga will have all football fans on the edge of their seats.