Manager reveals surprise Premier League rejection as Chelsea wait on Enzo Maresca appointment

Gian Piero Gasperini has revealed he recently received an offer to manage in the Premier League – but insisted he couldn’t bring himself to leave Atalanta after securing the club’s first silverware in over 60 years.

The 66-year-old has been at the helm of Atalanta since 2016 and last month won the Europa League by defeating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Gasperini has also guided the Italian outfit to consecutive top-four finishes in Serie A for the first time in the club’s history.

After becoming the first and only team to defeat Leverkusen this season and subsequently winning the Europa League, Gasperini has revealed that he received an offer to manage in the Premier League.

“I’ve received an important proposal from a Premier League club in the recent days, weeks,” Gasperini told La Gazzetta dello Sport . “I can’t accept and leave Italy now. I feel good here, and I’m planning my future here with Atalanta.”

Although the Italian didn’t reveal which club the proposal came from – it could have been Chelsea with the Londoners one of just two sides in the division without a manager. However, they are close to striking a deal for Enzo Maresca to take over at Stamford Bridge.

Brighton & Hove Albion are currently the only other side in the Premier League without a manager following Roberto De Zerbi’s end-of-season departure . Manchester United could also be sounding out possible successors for Erik ten Hag as his future at Old Trafford continues to hang in the balance.

Gasperini’s last high-profile managerial role came at Inter Milan in 2011 but he lasted just three months as he was sacked after a five-game winless run occurred at a time of hardship for the Italian giants off the field.