Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri confirms desire for Italy return as Juventus switch nears

Maurizio Sarri has admitted to missing Italy during a "heavy" year in London as the Chelsea boss closes in on a move to Juventus.

Sarri - who struggled to win over fans despite a third-place finish and Europa League win - is thought to have agreed a two-year deal with the Scudetto holders with the option of a further 12 months, after informing Chelsea of his desire to leave Stamford Bridge after just one season in charge .

In an interview with the Italian edition of Vanity Fair, the former Napoli coach said: "For us Italians the call of home is strong."

"We feel that something is missing. It has been a heavy year. I begin to feel the weight of distant friends, elderly parents I rarely see. But at my age I only make professional choices. I won't be able to coach for 20 years.

"It's hard work, the dugout. When I return home to Tuscany I feel like a stranger. I have slept thirty nights in the last few years!"

It is unclear when the interview took place, with Sarri thought to be in Turin on Monday to finalise terms with Juve. Chelsea are seeking £5million in compensation from the Italian champions and have stepped up their search for a successor, with club legend Frank Lampard among the candidates.

There has already been a backlash among Napoli supporters over Sarri's proposed move to Juve, with Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, who followed him to Stamford Bridge from the Stadio San Paolo last summer, admitting that they could regard the move as a "betrayal" .

But Sarri has insisted his relationship with the Napoli faithful will never change after spending three seasons in charge of the Serie A runners-up.

"The Neapolitans know the love I feel for them, I have chosen abroad last year, so as not to go to another Italian team," he said.

"But the profession can lead to other paths, the relationship will not change. Loyalty is giving 110 per cent when you are there. What does it mean to be faithful, if one day the company sends you away? What are you going to do: stay true to a wife you are divorced from?

"The last flag [of loyalty] was [Francesco] Totti, in the future we will have zero."

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