Napoli Win Serie A Title But Antonio Conte Could Still Leave

Antonio Conte could decide to remain at Napoli, and will reflect on things in the coming days.

Conte delivered an unlikely league title at the first time of asking for Napoli this season, but it was believed the former Juventus, Inter and Chelsea coach would leave following discontent over the future of the project.

Conte signed a three-year deal last summer, but was disappointed over the sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain in the middle of the season.

The Georgian ended his two-and-a-half year stint in southern Italy for the French capital in a $80m move.

Conte had tried to convince him to remain in Naples but failed.

Moreover, Conte is said to demand multiple number of new arrivals in the summer transfer market, as well as improving the infrastructure behind the scenes.

Club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis and Conte held a three-hour meeting in Rome to discuss ways to continue together.

Man City star Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly close to signing for the Serie A champions, while Lille star Jonathan David is also on the club’s list.

David scored 16 goals in 32 games this season for the Ligue 1 side but is out of contract at the end of June.

Conte, meanwhile, has been linked with a return to Juventus in recent months, the club where he made his name as a player and coach.

Conte walked out on the club in 2014 and a return has occasionally been mooted ever since. However this time the possibility appears to be the most concrete.

Juventus have had a horror show of a season, and Conte’s Juve past is viewed as a major driving force behind attempts to bring him back to the club.

It’s reported that since their meeting, Conte has given himself a few days to reflect on whether to continue with the Partenopei or leave.

Conte is somewhat notorious for walking out on teams. He did it with Juventus in the summer of 2014 and with Inter in 2021, believing both times the clubs couldn’t match his ambition.

As a coach, he’s never stayed longer than three seasons at any given club, and tends to leave them on a sour note.

“I wish Conte continuing success in his professional life,” said De Laurentiis after the club’s official bus parade through the city on Monday afternoon.

“He is a man who deserves respect and success, because he puts the effort in on a daily basis. Thank you, Antonio!”

De Laurentiis is an owner that has often butted heads with many of his coaches in the past.

Luciano Spalletti, who delivered a Scudetto in 2023, recently claimed De Laurentiis “didn’t call the night we won the title. Not the coach, not the players, not the sporting director, not the team manager.’

Moreover, Spalletti claimed that had the owner show a more ‘human aspect’, he likely would’ve stayed in Naples the following, but left after securing the title.

Whether Conte remains in Naples is unknown at this stage, but the answer will likely arrive by the end of the week.