Antonio Conte is set to be appointed Tottenham coach after being close to taking the Manchester United job. Here’s how Fabio Paratici managed to reunite with the former Inter and Juventus coach.
Conte and Paratici worked together at Juventus from 2011 until 2014, winning three Serie A titles and one Italian Super Cup.
Conte, who resigned as Inter coach in the summer, was supposed to take a sabbatical but agreed to take over in North London after negotiating with Manchester United.
The 52-year-old was in talks with the Red Devils at the end of October, but the Red Devils decided against sacking their coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer giving him time until the November break.
The former striker is backed by Sir Alex Ferguson, who pushed for his stay at Old Trafford.
According to The Sun, the Red Devils would be forced to pay a full year’s salary as a severance package in case of sacking.
Oddly, United’s 3-0 win over Tottenham convinced Tottenham to part ways with Nuno Espirito Santo, paving the way for an agreement with Conte.
According to Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia, Conte will fly to London in the coming hours to sign a one year and a half deal with Spurs.
Tottenham sit 8th in the Serie A table, with 15 points in ten games.
Conte left Inter in the summer after winning the Serie A title with the Nerazzurri. The first one in 11 years for the Serie A giants.
Tottenham opened talks with the coach only a few weeks later, but the former midfielder snubbed a move to North London.
Back in June, he explained what he expected from a new job.
“Generally, I like the challenges and I’ve accepted many of them during my career,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Even the top clubs I coached were never the favourites when I arrived. However, if there’s something that doesn’t convince me I prefer not to accept regardless of the money.”
According to Sky Sport Italia, one of the reasons why he changed his mind over the Tottenham job is the club’s decision to invest in new signings in January.
Conte is a very demanding coach in terms of transfers and left Juventus and Inter over disagreements with the clubs about their transfer strategies.
Conte’s first game in charge of his new team should be on Thursday when Tottenham host Vitesse in the Conference League.
I bet the spurs players are soiling themselves at the thought of Conte taking charge of training.
Harry ‘obviously’ Kane is actually going to have to do some running.
This is the end of Conte, his been badly advised on taking this poison chalice….
I have to agree with Antonio. At least he should have waited till the start of a new season. Now he’ll be entering midway through the first half, without being able to get players he wants (yet). It will likely fail and reflect badly on him. But I guess if he has decided to do it, he will have his reasons, and I guess you have to trust that he knows what he’s doing.
Kane is gone, that’s where the money is coming from.
What do you mean “stole”?
Man Utd failed to fire Ole (still backed by Sir Alex), so Conte went for his 2nd best option.
At least he has excuses not to deliver there. Will be fun watching him work under Levy LOL.
I think this is a bridge too far for Conte. Spuds do not have the spending power of Chelsea, City, Liverpool and United. This is not serie a or la liga. The competition and those clubs mentioned are stiffer then anything he has coped with. I bet people will point to his time at Chelsea. That is my point he was at Chelsea and they have oil money. Spuds are second losers of north London
ronaldo maybe “intervene” conte to mu though
conte is very demanding coach