According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Antonio Conte is Napoli‘s priority target for 2024-25, but his salary and the different views with President Aurelio De Laurentiis over the team’s management make it hard for the Partenopei to hire the ex-Juventus and Inter boss.
Napoli are expected to hire a new coach in the summer despite Francesco Calzona’s recent appointment at the Stadio Maradona. The 55-year-old has signed a contract until the end of the season, and ADL is already considering a possible replacement for 2024-25.
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Conte is ADL’s priority, but the Italian tactician is not expected to answer the Partenopei’s call for several reasons.
Napoli have already opened talks with Conte, but according to Corriere dello Sport, the two parties have different views regarding the team’s management. Conte and De Laurentiis have ‘strong personalities’ that seem ‘incompatible’, especially regarding the coach’s autonomy in his role.
For example, it is no secret that De Laurentiis often stepped inside the Napoli dressing room before games and even during half-time breaks this season and this is something Conte would be unwilling to accept.
At the same time, Conte’s salary is out of reach for Napoli, and it seems unlikely that he will lower his wages even if the Stadio Maradona would be a stimulating place for him to resume his coaching career.
ADL will probably make a final attempt with Conte before focusing on different targets for the Napoli job. According to the report, Francesco Farioli (OGC Nice), Raffaele Palladino (Monza) and Vincenzo Italiano (Fiorentina) are three solid candidates on ADL’s agenda.