Former Chelsea, Inter and Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has no intention to return to football as Napoli’s new boss, 90min understands.
Conte has been out of work since leaving Spurs under a cloud in March and is taking stock before he decides what the next move of his career might be.
The Italian, who has won league titles in both his homeland and England, has been the subject of interest from reigning Serie A Napoli amid disappointment over their start to the season.
Last season’s scudetto winners hired ex-Lille and Roma coach Rudi Garcia in the summer after Luciano Spalletti decided to step down for what proved to be a short-lived sabbatical before he wound up taking over from Roberto Mancini as Italy national team boss.
Tottenham aside, Conte is renowned for his record of instant success, winning Serie A with Juventus in his first season to end the club’s title drought since the calciopoli scandal and then twice retaining the trophy. He enjoyed a similar impact at Chelsea, before his second season with Inter delivered he club’s first scudetto in 11 years – he had also reached the Europa League final in year one.
90min understands that Napoli reached out to Conte, although he was not particularly happy about the contact while Garcia remains in charge. The 54-year-old still met with president Aurelio De Laurentiis regardless and it was cordial exchange between the pair, but not enough to change Conte’s mind that Napoli isn’t the right job for him at this moment in time.
There is a possibility things could change should Garcia be dismissed, but even then it is not likely.
Taking to social media, Conte appeared to directly address the Napoli talks.
“I’m linked with important clubs but as of now, my plan remains to wait and enjoy my family,” he explained, posting on Instagram stories.
Conte has been consistently linked with Real Madrid for a number of years and speculation on that front could grow the longer he remains available as incumbent Carlo Ancelotti nears the end of his contract and a widely anticipated move into international football with Brazil.
What we know
- Antonio Conte approached by Napoli
- Italian out of work since leaving Tottenham
- Meeting held with Aurelio De Laurentiis.