Fabrizio Romano reports that Antonio Conte is ready to return to the bench, but hasn’t had recent talks with Napoli. Conte recently gave a lengthy interview to the Telegraph which seemed to indicate he was ready to return to the dugout next season.
Writing for his Daily Briefing for CaughtOffside, Romano offered some insights on Conte’s situation, suggesting he could be back to coaching very soon:
“Antonio Conte has appeared in the media again, to remind everyone that he’s still a winner.
“He was of course referring to his time with Chelsea in his recent interview, and the time now seems right for him to get back into football management after his sabbatical.
“Although there have been rumours in the Italian press regarding a possible move by Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, to hire Conte from next season, I’ve nothing confirmed on this one honestly.
“Conte said no to Napoli in October and I’m not aware of fresh contacts at this stage.”
Conte’s managerial style may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying his credentials. While some may question the wisdom of his outburst during his tenure at Tottenham, it’s hard to argue with the sentiments expressed, sentiments that many football supporters have harbored for years.
It remains unclear whether Conte’s recent remarks about his time at Chelsea were a deliberate attempt to thrust himself back into the public eye after a period of relative obscurity. Nevertheless, the timing seems ripe for his return.
