Renowned Italian managerMarcello Lippi has admitted that he was close to becoming AC Milan manager in January, before a good run of form savedSinisa Mihajlovic's job.
The 68-year-old revealedthat he had already held talkswith Milan CEOAdriano Galliani when Milan were stuttering in Serie A earlier in the season, only for discussions to break down after Milan started to perform on the field.
"The contact was at such a stage that I had already gathered all of the staff I work with at my home and told them to get ready," the former Italy coach told Corriere Fiorentino.
"Then Milan beat Fiorentina 2-0 in their first game back after the winter break and went on a run of good results, and it all went up in smoke."
Mihajlovic's tenure was short lived, as he was sacked in April, leavingChristian Brocchi to take temporary charge.
Lippi had a chance to return to Italyonce more in the summer, looking to take over as thetechnical director with the Italian Football Association (FIGC), but once again he admitted that the timing was off.
" I had a good time in China", Marcello Lippi admits thinking about a return to #China after leaving in March 2015 pic.twitter.com/rcf0o93fIf
"They've tried to bring me to Milan three or four times before," Lippi added. "But I always said no. I had given them my availability this time, though."
Instead the veteran manager could be in line with a return to the Chinese Super League, where he won threesuccessiveleaguetitleswithGuangzhou Evergrande between 2012 and 2014.
"Yes, it's true -- I am thinking about going back," he said. "Up to a few weeks ago, things looked different with the pre-contractual agreement I had with the FIGC, and you all know how that ended. I had a good time in China -- it was an exciting challenge."