Rumors are circulating about the uncertain future of manager Antonio Conte (56), and it is reported that Napoli is searching for a new head coach.
According to England's 'Football Italia,' on the 8th (Korean time), citing Italy's 'Tutto Mercato Web (TMW),' Napoli has attempted to contact former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri (58) in preparation for Conte's departure.
Napoli, led by Conte, is currently in the thick of the Serie A title race. With three games remaining, they have secured 77 points, leading second-place Inter Milan (74 points) by three points.
If Napoli wins the Serie A title, they will claim the Scudetto (championship patch) for the first time in three years since the 2022-2023 season when Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) played for them. For Conte, this would mark another 'first-season championship' following his successes at Juventus and Chelsea.
Nevertheless, Conte's status remains uncertain. Local media report that this is due to Napoli selling their ace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) during the middle of the season.
Napoli reportedly increased Conte's dissatisfaction by receiving about 70 million euros (approximately 110.6 billion won) for Kvaratskhelia without adequately acquiring replacement resources.
Furthermore, rumors of discord between Conte and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, as well as speculation about a return to Juventus and a potential transfer to AC Milan, have also surfaced.
In response, Napoli has turned their attention to Allegri, who left Juventus after the 2023-2024 season. According to the article, De Laurentiis and Allegri have maintained a good relationship, and Allegri is regarded not merely as a candidate but as a 'strong contender' for the position.
However, everything currently hinges on Conte's decision. He has stated, 'I will not make any decisions until the Serie A championship is confirmed.' The Serie A title race is likely to continue until the last game of the season.
Conte has previously resigned due to conflicts with the club's management. Despite achieving three consecutive Serie A titles during his time at Juventus, he abruptly left in 2014 due to clashes over player acquisitions.
Likewise, during his time at Chelsea, Conte led the team to the Premier League title and FA Cup in the 2016-2017 season, but he was dismissed after publicly expressing dissatisfaction when desired player acquisitions were not realized.
The same was true during his time at Inter Milan and Tottenham. Conte led Inter Milan to the Serie A title in the 2020-2021 season, but he resigned due to dissatisfaction with squad reinforcement. He left Tottenham after publicly criticizing the club's management, including chairman Daniel Levy, in March 2023.
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