Napoli Confident in Keeping Conte Despite Exit Rumors

Napoli are more confident that Antonio Conte will stay as their coach for the 2025-26 season. Recent talks between Conte and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis went well, and a final decision is expected soon.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Conte and De Laurentiis had a meeting on Tuesday, which many thought would end their time working together. However, Conte asked for more time to think about his future. De Laurentiis made big promises regarding transfers to convince Conte to stay. Conte’s contract runs until June 2027. After the discussions, Napoli officials are hopeful that Conte will continue and build on this season’s success.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Conte led Napoli to their fourth Serie A title and their second in three years, establishing himself as a winner in Italy. This is his fifth championship in Italy, and he is the first coach to win Serie A with three different clubs. Napoli have returned to the top of Italian football after a poor title defense last year. They lead the Serie A standings by eight points with just one match to play. Despite this success, Conte was frustrated with the training facilities and transfer strategy. Reports in April suggested he was preparing for life after Napoli. De Laurentiis has been working to address his concerns and reportedly promised “an even stronger team” for next season.

POTENTIAL TRANSFERS ON THE HORIZON

As part of De Laurentiis’ efforts to keep Conte, Napoli have ambitious transfer plans. Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is said to be close to joining, while Lille’s Jonathan David, a free agent, is also on their radar. These additions would significantly strengthen the Serie A-winning squad.

WHAT NEXT FOR NAPOLI?

If Conte stays, Napoli have a contingency plan in place. Former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has been contacted and is ready to step in as head coach if needed. Napoli will face Fiorentina in their final league match on Sunday, looking to finish their championship season with a win. After that, preparations will begin for next season’s Champions League campaign. Securing Conte’s commitment would provide stability as they go in search of more silverware. However, there is still work to be done in the transfer market.