Italian sports papers confirm Napoli directors met Antonio Conte last week, but the Partenopei are considering the financial risks of the deal so three other candidates remain in the race for the job.
La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport confirm that Conte met Napoli representatives in Turin last week. Sportitalia broke the news on Tuesday.
Both Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport claim Napoli are making financial assessments because Conte’s demands for the Partenopei are high.
The pink paper reports Napoli could afford to pay a €6m-a-year salary for the ex-Juventus and Inter coach, but if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season, they’d be struggling financially in 2025-26.
Conte: Napoli consider pros and cons after meeting with ex-Juve and Inter coach
This is why Napoli could eventually offer the ex-midfielder a salary tied to a Champions League qualification or even include a clause that allows the club to terminate the agreement if they fail to reach the top four next season.
De Laurentiis wants a top coach after a terrible season and is aware Conte would be an ideal candidate, but the costs of a possible deal remain high, so a final decision hasn’t yet been made.
Corriere dello Sport confirms Napoli’s concerns about Conte and claims Gian Piero Gasperini remains Aurelio De Laurentiis’ primary option with Stefano Pioli and Vincenzo Italiano still in the race.
However, while Napoli can already talk to Pioli, who is expected to leave Milan, they’d need to wait before discussing with Italiano and Gasp, who will be involved in European Finals with Fiorentina and Atalanta over the next few weeks.