Suddenly, the flow is changing dramatically.

Italian media 'Arena Napoli' reported on the 28th (Korean time) that "Napoli is desperate to land coach Antonio Conte. Led by Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, close associates, and Romelu Lukaku, who won the title with Napoli, are united in persuading him," adding that Conte has also opened the door to negotiations.

Prominent Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio noted on the 26th that "Conte and Napoli are on the verge of parting ways, seeking mutual termination of their agreement," and added, "The choice for Napoli's bench is between Massimiliano Allegri and Conte, with the latter hoping for a move to Juventus. Both sides are trying to resolve the situation quickly."

The media reported that "After winning the fourth Scudetto in history, Napoli began planning the club's future, starting with the coach. The relationship with Conte is gradually heading toward an end. A meeting is scheduled to assess the situation between the club and Conte after the Pope's visit. However, the current intentions, strategies, and atmosphere are all heading in one direction."

It is Conte, who is on the verge of leaving Napoli just after winning. He achieved the remarkable feat of leading the team to the top of Serie A right after taking over this season. Napoli clinched the title with 82 points (24 wins, 10 draws, 4 losses), defeating Cagliari 2-0 in the final league match on the 24th. It was an exhilarating victory.

Napoli began strong under the command of "the title specialist" Conte. They dismantled opponents with Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay leading the charge and accumulated points with the league's best defense. Napoli experienced ups and downs in the second half, even conceding the top spot to Inter Milan.

However, late in the season, Inter Milan began to slip as they juggled the UEFA Champions League, and Napoli seized the moment to reclaim the lead. They won the decisive final match held at home against Cagliari, securing the Scudetto for the first time in two years since the 2022-2023 season when Kim Min-jae excelled.

Thus, Conte became the first coach to lift trophies with three different Serie A teams, following Juventus and Inter Milan. Moreover, he set a remarkable record by winning with a team that finished 10th last season. Additionally, Conte's Napoli clinched the title with a defense-based strategy, allowing only 27 goals while scoring 59, marking them as the team with the fewest goals scored in history to win the title.

Conte, who immediately proved himself as a "title specialist" after leaving Tottenham, took over Tottenham in November 2021 and led the team to 4th place, but struggled the following season. He adopted overly defensive tactics even with Son Heung-min and Harry Kane and had to leave the team in disgrace after criticizing the players.

Conte, who successfully rejuvenated at Napoli, expressed his joy, saying, "It's really wonderful. There were so many people that it was hard to get into the stadium. I thought it would weigh on my heart for a long time if I disappointed the fans. The players were excellent under pressure. It's commendable that a team that finished 10th last season is now champions."

However, the separation from Napoli is also based on conflicts with President De Laurentiis. Conte requested reinforcement after selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) during the winter transfer market, but President De Laurentiis rejected the request, citing cost concerns. And it is not an unilateral dismissal.

Both sides are expected to part ways through a mutually agreeable arrangement. Di Marzio explained that "This relationship seems poised to end without any significant fracture. Conte and Napoli will remain in a familial relationship. Various reasons lie behind this decision, which are not limited to financial aspects or transfer market considerations."

However, the situation has changed. Arena Napoli stated that "There was a meeting between President De Laurentiis and coach Conte. No final decision has been made yet, but the meeting was somewhat positive. Still, it will take a little more time for Conte to make a decision," adding that "this meeting was merely a first encounter. Both sides are expected to have additional meetings after taking their time to sort things out."

Napoli’s club specialist reporter Ugolini reported that "There was no mutual termination discussed at the meeting as everyone had anticipated. The meeting lasted a hefty four hours, where both sides discussed what they wanted. Conte voiced his demands for the transfer market, and President De Laurentiis responded positively."

"President De Laurentiis emphasized his confirmation of acquiring Kevin De Bruyne before the transfer market opens and promised further reinforcements to Conte. Conte also requested about 2-3 more days to clarify his future outlook. Both sides are keeping the possibility of remaining open."

[OSEN]