Which team will the Serie A title specialist aim for?
The Italian outlet 'Arena Napoli' reported on the 28th (Korean time) that "Napoli is desperate to capture coach Antonio Conte. Led by Aurelio De Laurentiis, the president of Napoli, and other officials, Romelu Lukaku, who won with Napoli, is also coming together to persuade him," adding that Coach Conte has kept the door open for negotiations.
Prominent Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio noted on the 26th that "Conte and Napoli are on the verge of a breakup. They are aiming for a mutual termination of the contract," stating that "The choice for Napoli's bench is Massimiliano Allegri, and Conte hopes to move to Juventus. Both sides are trying to resolve the situation immediately."
The media reported that "After achieving the fourth Scudetto in history, Napoli began planning the club's future starting from the coach. The relationship with Conte is gradually nearing its end. A meeting to assess the situation between the club and Conte is expected to be held following the Pope's visit. However, currently, all intentions, strategies, and atmospheres seem to be heading in the same direction."
Coach Conte is about to leave Napoli just after winning the title. He led the team to the top of Serie A as soon as he was appointed this season. Napoli secured the championship with 82 points (24 wins, 10 draws, 4 losses) by defeating Cagliari 2-0 in the final league match on the 24th. It’s an exhilarating victory.
Napoli, under the guidance of 'title specialist' Coach Conte, started strongly from the beginning. They overwhelmed opponents with Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay leading the charge, accumulating points with the league's best defense. However, Napoli faced ups and downs in the second half of the season, even losing the top spot to Inter Milan.
However, as the season approached its end, Inter Milan began to slip while competing in the UEFA Champions League, and Napoli seized the opportunity to reclaim the lead. They then clinched the Scudetto for the first time in two years since the 2022-2023 season by defeating Cagliari in the final match held at home, where Kim Min-jae showcased his talents.
With this victory, Coach Conte became the first manager to lift trophies with three different Serie A teams: Juventus, Inter Milan, and Napoli. Furthermore, he achieved the historic feat of winning with a team that finished 10th the previous season. Additionally, Coach Conte's Napoli topped the league with a defensive record of 27 goals conceded and 59 goals scored.
Coach Conte, who immediately proved his status as a 'title specialist' after leaving Tottenham, joined Tottenham in November 2021 and managed to elevate the team to fourth place, but fell into a slump the following season. Coach Conte played overly defensive football even with Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, leading to a decline in both performance and results. Calls to dismiss him grew louder each day.
Then, in March 2023, Coach Conte lost his cool and made explosive remarks. He criticized the players, saying, "Tottenham players are selfish and do not help each other. They do not play for something important. They do not want to play under pressure and stress." This was not the end. Coach Conte further stated, "The club and the players have no ambition to win," saying, "This is Tottenham's story. There has been the same owner for 20 years, but nothing has been achieved. The blame always falls on the managers," pointing out Tottenham's 'trophy-less DNA.'
Coach Conte has succeeded in making a comeback at Napoli. He expressed, "It's truly wonderful. There were so many people that it was hard to get into the stadium. I thought that if I disappointed the fans, it would stay in my heart for a very long time. The players were brilliant under pressure. It's commendable for a team that finished 10th last season to win the championship."
However, his departure from Napoli is also rooted in conflicts with President De Laurentiis. Coach Conte demanded reinforcement after selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) during the winter transfer market, but President De Laurentiis rejected it, citing the high cost. Moreover, it wasn't an unilateral dismissal.
Both sides are expected to part ways amicably through a mutual agreement. Di Marzio explained, "This relationship will likely end without significant fractures. Conte and Napoli will remain in a family relationship. The reasons for this decision are varied and not limited to financial aspects or the transfer market."
However, the situation has changed. Arena Napoli reported that "There was a meeting between Coach Roma and President De Laurentiis. While a final decision has not been made, the meeting was somewhat positive. However, Coach Conte will need more time to make a decision," adding that "This meeting was only the first meeting. Both sides are scheduled for additional meetings after organizing their thoughts over time."
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