Cesare Prandelli opens door to Fiorentina exit

Fiorentina's Cesare Prandelli, one of the most admired coaches in Serie A, said on Saturday comments from the club's owner asking him to clarify his future felt like a sacking.

Diego Della Valle said this week the coach, who has a year left on his contract, should come out and say whether he wants to take over faltering Juventus at the end of the season.

"I'm bitter," Prandelli told a news conference ahead of Sunday's home game with Udinese. "Reading Della Valle's comments well, they sound to me like a dismissal."

Fiorentina are talking with the city council over a new stadium called Cittadella while the strained relationship between the fans and the owners led to Della Valle's brother Andrea quitting as president in September.

"I want to continue to follow my dream here in Florence but what are the conditions?" Prandelli asked. "If the project of the club depends on building the Cittadella, I have to look elsewhere to continue my dream."

Fiorentina, who have won admirers across Europe for their style of play, were unlucky to be eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16.

Prandelli is seen by Italian media has the top choice to replace Juve caretaker coach Alberto Zaccheroni in May.

Twice European champions Juve, who sacked Ciro Ferrara in January, are enduring one of their worst ever seasons having lost 11 times in Serie A to lie in seventh spot.

Prandelli is also a candidate to take over Italy if Marcello Lippi, who has yet to reveal his intentions, quits after June's World Cup.

Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City's Roberto Mancini are among names touted in the media as possible Italy coaches but both are in their first seasons at their new clubs.