Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri TEARS UP contract with Lazio for a second time and is ‘set to join Serie A rivals’ – as Italian managerial merry-go-round melts into chaos

Maurizio Sarri has torn up his contract with Lazio for a second time – and is reportedly poised to join Atalanta.

The former Chelsea boss will lead Atalanta in the Europa Conference League next season and could be on a collision course with Brighton.

Sarri leaves Lazio just one year into a three-year contract, having only led Lazio to ninth in Serie A, missing out on European football. He previously managed them between 2021 and 2024 but also resigned then. 

He will replace Raffaele Palladino and reunite with director Cristiano Giuntoli, with whom he enjoyed success at Napoli, as reported by Tutto Mercato. 

Serie A is set for another comical merry-go-round summer as a result. 

Antonio Conte is leaving Napoli after two seasons, Massimiliano Allegri has been sacked by AC Milan, Gennaro Gattuso is said to be set to join Lazio, and Vincenzo Italiano reportedly intends to leave Bologna. 

There is also talk about the future of Cesc Fabregas, who led Como to an impressive Champions League berth and has many admirers around Europe.  

Italy is notorious for recycling its time-honoured managers and Sarri is moving on to his 23rd managerial gig. All bar Chelsea have been in his homeland. 

He was at Chelsea for the 2018-19 season, leading them to Europa League glory, third in the Premier League, and the League Cup final.

Sarri memorably tried to substitute his goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of the final penalty shoot-out against Manchester City, but the Spaniard refused to come off for Willy Caballero.

The manager thought that Kepa had gone down with cramp, but the goalie later explained that he had only been time-wasting and apologised to his former boss for the confusion.

Sarri’s last trophy came with Juventus in 2019-20 when he won the Scudetto with Juventus – his only top-flight title. 

He started out in the regional divisions of Italian football and won Coppa Italia Serie D with Sansovino in 2002-03.

The 67-year-old almost got his hands on a fourth career trophy with Lazio this campaign as he led them to the Coppa Italia final, but they lost 2-0 to Inter Milan. 

While he doesn’t exactly depart on a high, he has the respect of Lazio fans after leading the Rome-based club to second place in 2022-23 in his first stint at the club.

That was their highest finish since they won the title in the 1999-2000 season.