In Novmber 2017, former Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino filed a complaint against Alaves for failing to pay him and his assistants bonus of €500,000 for guiding his former club to the Copa del Rey final in 2017. It was their second cup final in 97 years of history, which they lost 3-1 to Barcelona.
Pellegrino and his assistants failed to find an agreement with Alaves over the bonus dispute, and then he left the club and took over at Southampton. Therefore, the two parties have decided to settle it in court
According to the Spanish outlet Marca, Pellegrino arrived in Vitoria-Gasteiz for the trial between him and his former employer that was held on Mat 23rd.
The 46-year-old claims he, along with four of his assistants, Xavier Tamarit, Carlos Compagnucci, David Rodríguez and Javier López Vallejo should have received a bonus, which comes around €100,000 each. The report claims the outcome of the trial will be known in approximately two weeks.
Pellegrino was keen on continuing at Alaves and was hoping to sign an extension. However, the two parties failed to agree on an extension and he left the club and joined Southampton in summer of 2017, only to be sacked in March 2018.
The report also claims that Alaves president Alfonso Fernández de Troconiz, sporting director Sergio Fernández and two of their then players Manu García and Gaizka Toquero were involved in negotiating the bonuses. Pellegrino’s lawyers had earlier summoned the two players, but they are yet to give a statement.
Meanwhile, Leganes have offered Pellegrino an opportunity to manage them next season. The Spanish side are expecting a quick answer from the ex-Saints boss.