La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Aurelio De Laurentiis is ready to bring Antonio Conte to Napoli in an effort to keep his star players. Reports from Italy continue to suggest that current Partenopei coach Luciano Spalletti is preparing to leave the club this summer, with speculation mounting that an official announcement could come in the weeks ahead.
La Gazzetta report that Conte continues to be a name that’s high on De Laurentiis’ list, and that the Napoli president may be prepared to bet on him, despite his high salary.
The newspaper claims that the potential appointment of Conte would be an effort from Napolu to try and convince their big name players to remain in Naples this summer:
“The first point one can think of is the technical-tactical one, of system of play, since for years he has preferred more of a three-man defence. But Conte is a technician who is capable of adapting his ideas to the characteristics of the players, and when you have someone like Kvaratskhelia who is capable on the flank of beating his man, that’s when switching to the four-man line, even to a 4-2-4 would not be a problem.”
Conte is reportedly keen to get back into the game after Tottenham, and could find a ‘respectable team’ in Naples:
“Certainly today Conte has a great desire to get back into the game and the idea of finding a team already well set up to compete in Italy and Europe would entice him.”
“Of course his salary remains no small obstacle. Because by the policy he has imposed on himself to keep the accounts in order, De Laurentiis does not want to go beyond seven million in player and even coaching salaries. But the reasoning could also change, and always to stay in line with a certain policy: a leading coach, even if more expensive, would give the Azzurri bigwigs an extra stimulus to stay and continue winning instead of perhaps “listening” to the offers of other teams.”
