Palermo, club chairman Maurizio Zamparini has revealed Sinisa Mihajlovic was his first choice replacement.
Former Foggia boss Roberto De Zerbi looks set to take over on the Rosanero bench after Ballardini left the club’s training camp, but he was not the first choice in the eyes of Zamparini and the 75-year-old was looking at replacing Ballardini before the season even began.
“With all due respect to Ballardini, I had contacted Mihajlovic but he was already in talks with Torino,” he told Corriere dello Sport.
Mihajlovic replaced Giampiero Ventura at the Granata, who left the club to take charge of the Italian national side.
Palermo have collected one point from their opening two Serie A games this season, but they could have a new man on the bench by the time Napoli come to visit on September 10.
