Conte remains Napoli manager after twist, refocusing on team's future

It's a twist within a twist. Antonio Conte will ultimately remain with SSC Napoli.

On the 30th (Korea time), Napoli posted a 50-second tribute video for Conte on the club's social media with the phrase "Conte again!"

This is practically an official announcement that he will continue with the team for the upcoming season. Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, also posted a photo celebrating the victory with Conte, stating, "We will move forward at full speed. Transfer stronger than before!"

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio also reported that Conte has changed his mind and will remain with Napoli. He said, "Conte will maintain his position as Napoli's manager next season," and that this news was officially announced after several hours of meetings involving Conte, De Laurentiis, Giovanni Manna, sports director, and Andrea Chiavelli, CEO.

Di Marzio added, "After several discussions with the board, Conte decided to stay after being assured about the transfer market and the subsequent situation. He will not return to Juventus. The discussion continues between Conte and Napoli following the Scudetto (Serie A championship)."

Conte made a remarkable impact as soon as he joined Napoli last summer, leading the team to the top of Serie A. Napoli secured the title with 82 points (24 wins, 10 draws, 4 losses) after defeating Cagliari 2-0 in the final league match held on the 24th.

It's an exhilarating victory. Under the command of manager Conte, known as the 'victory specialist,' Napoli surged ahead from the start. They dominated opponents with Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay leading the charge, accumulating points with the league's strongest defense.

Napoli faced ups and downs in the second half, temporarily losing the top spot to Inter Milan. However, as Inter Milan began to slip while also competing in the UEFA Champions League at the season's end, Napoli took advantage of this opportunity and reclaimed first place. They captured the Scudetto for the first time in two years since the 2022-2023 season by defeating Cagliari in a pivotal final match held at home.

Thus, Conte became the first manager to lift trophies with three different Serie A teams, following Juventus and Inter Milan. Additionally, he set a significant record by winning with a team that finished 10th the previous season. Furthermore, Conte's Napoli achieved the title with just 59 goals and 27 conceded, marking them as the lowest-scoring champions in history.

Conte, who left Tottenham, quickly proved his status as a 'victory specialist.' He took over Tottenham in November 2021, leading them to a fourth-place finish, but suffered a downturn the following season. Despite having Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, he focused excessively on defensive play, leading to a significant decline in both performance and results. Naturally, calls for his dismissal grew louder.

Then, in March 2023, Conte lost his composure and made explosive comments. He criticized, 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."

It didn't stop there. Conte stated, "The club and players lack the desire to win," adding, "This is the story of Tottenham. For 20 years, there has been the same owner, yet nothing has been achieved. The blame always falls on the managers," pointing out Tottenham's 'DNA of mediocrity.'

Ultimately, Conte's comments crossed a line, and he immediately stepped down from his role at Tottenham. It was essentially a dismissal. He left the team without lifting a single trophy since joining Juventus in 2011.

Conte successfully made a comeback at Napoli. He exclaimed, "It's truly wonderful. There were so many people that it was difficult to get into the stadium. I thought if I disappointed the fans, it would linger in my heart for a long time. The players were excellent under pressure. A team that finished 10th last season deserves praise for winning!"

However, rumors began to circulate that Conte might leave Napoli. Earlier, Di Marzio reported, "Conte and Napoli are on the brink of separation. The choice for Napoli's bench is Massimiliano Allegri. Both parties are trying to wrap things up immediately."

He also stated, "After achieving the club's fourth Scudetto in history, Napoli began planning for the future starting with the manager. The relationship with Conte is gradually moving toward an end. A meeting is scheduled to assess the situation between the club and Conte following the Pope's visit. However, currently, intentions, strategies, and atmospheres are all heading in one direction."

However, a twist occurred. Conte had the final meeting with the Napoli board, and he changed his mind at the last moment after being promised the transfer market plans and team operating rights he demanded. According to Fabrizio Romano, both sides agreed on a salary increase for Conte and to maintain the current contract structure, along with aggressive investments in the transfer market and a long-term vision.

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