Rangers looked into appointing Francesco Farioli in 2022 but could now face the Italian in Old Firm derbies.
The Gers quickly zeroed in on Michael Beale as their top managerial target following Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s exit.
Rangers managed to land their man and Beale is now in the middle of a major recruitment drive to kick-start his Ibrox revolution.
Other options were explored though, including little-known Italian coach Francesco Farioli.
The Italian – who served as Roberto De Zerbi’s goalkeeping coach at two clubs in Italy – has managed in Turkey with Fatih Karagumruk and Alanyaspor.
Farioli is only 34 and is considered to be an exciting young coach but is waiting for his next opportunity having Alanyaspor in February.
The Athletic reported that Rangers held talks with Farioli to discuss a potential move to Glasgow.
That report added that Rangers would be keeping tabs on Farioli just in case they needed a new manager down the line.
However, Farioli is now in talks over a potential move which would all but rule out any future move to Ibrox.
Former Rangers target Francesco Farioli now in Celtic talks
The Daily Record report that Farioli has now held talks to become the new Celtic manager.
Celtic are trying to replace Ange Postecoglou and their search has taken them to Farioli.
Talks have been held and Farioli is allegedly ‘keen to make Glasgow his next destination’.
Farioli missed out on a move to Glasgow in November as Rangers focused on Beale instead, but he could still end up in Scotland.
That would be a stunning turn of events, with Farioli potentially now in line to manage against Beale in Old Firm derbies.
We can imagine that Celtic have targets higher on their list, but Farioli is clearly a name on their radar.
Rangers may have wanted to track Farioli’s development over the coming years, but any move to Celtic would probably take him off the Ibrox radar.
