Antonio Conte could reportedly leave Napoli at the end of the season, with the Italian coach said to be considering a return to the Italy national team.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport, Napoli and Conte are moving towards a possible split by mutual consent. The former Chelsea and Juventus manager still has a contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona until June 2027, but his future now appears uncertain.
The reports claim the situation changed after a key meeting in mid-April between Conte and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis. Although Conte recently guided Napoli to a win over Pisa that secured Champions League qualification, he has strongly hinted that his time in Naples could end earlier than expected.
Conte eyes possible Italy return
Conte is reportedly interested in taking charge of Italy for a second time after the national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The 55-year-old previously led the Azzurri between 2014 and 2016, taking them to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. A return to the national team would give him the chance to rebuild Italy after another major tournament disappointment.
If Conte does leave Napoli, the exit is expected to be handled through mutual consent. That would allow both sides to separate cleanly, without a major compensation package for the coach.
Napoli already considering replacements
A potential vacancy at Napoli has already sparked speculation over who could replace Conte.
Maurizio Sarri and Massimiliano Allegri are both being linked with the role. Allegri’s future at AC Milan is said to be uncertain because of tensions with senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic and CEO Giorgio Furlani.
Sarri’s situation at Lazio is also far from settled. After a painful derby defeat to Roma, he admitted he was unhappy with how the season had unfolded.
“Let’s play the last match first. At the moment they haven’t told me anything regarding future plans,” Sarri said.
“I didn’t like this season’s situation, I wasn’t listened to at all and I’m not very happy, maybe the club isn’t happy either. Let’s finish the league campaign and see if they have something to tell me.”
Big summer decision for Napoli
Napoli may have secured Champions League football, but Conte’s future could still define their summer.
Losing him would force the club into another major reset, especially if De Laurentiis wants to keep Napoli competitive domestically and in Europe next season.
For Conte, the decision may come down to ambition and timing. Staying in Naples would mean continuing a demanding club project, while returning to Italy would offer the chance to restore national pride after a painful World Cup failure.
For now, no final decision has been confirmed. But the signs increasingly point towards Conte’s Napoli spell ending sooner than expected.
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