Everybody desires Joey Chestnut again within the Nathan’s Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest — from followers to his opponents and even Jaws himself … ‘trigger final 12 months’s champion tells TMZ Sports activities the glizzy king “positively” desires to make a comeback!!

We chopped it up with Patrick Bertoletti contemporary off our report concerning the ongoing talks between Main League Consuming and Chestnut … and he instructed us his good buddy is hungry to be again onstage in Coney Island this Fourth of July.

“In the event that they’re speaking, that is a very good factor,” Bertoletti mentioned. “And I believe it is a greater competitors general if he is there.”

The 40-year-old mentioned the custom with out Jaws “felt actually bizarre.” Whereas he is aware of his title protection will likely be tougher with Joey within the area, Bertoletti welcomes the chance with open arms.

“To be the very best, you bought to beat the very best.”

Bertoletti thinks if Chestnut is again, he’ll return with a vengeance — and though he is unsure he’ll break the 83 mark he set towards Takeru Kobayashi throughout their occasion in Las Vegas in September … Patrick has no doubts Joey can be popping out to show a degree.

“After a foul breakup, you need your ex to see you with a extremely sizzling chick, and also you need to show them mistaken and make a press release,” he mentioned.

“And he is already made so many statements, he is pushed by motivation, and I am type of afraid to see what it is unleashing in him if he does come again, and what he is able to.”

There’s extra — Bertoletti shared the playful smack speak he dished to Chestnut throughout his 12 months as champ … which went down in the course of the Thanksgiving vacation (facet observe: are you able to think about aggressive eaters assembly up for Turkey Day?!)