7M - Conte Departs Napoli Denies Agreement For Italy Job

Antonio Conte has officially announced his departure from Napoli following the conclusion of the Serie A season, citing a toxic atmosphere around the team. The declaration came during a press conference after Napoli concluded their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Udinese, courtesy of a goal from Rasmus Hojlund.

Reflecting on his tenure alongside club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, Conte expressed regret over his inability to unite the environment, mentioning that he encountered too much poison and weeds during his time. He stated that this negativity prompted his decision to step away as he felt unable to change the surroundings to compete against rivals like Inter or Milan. Despite the exit, he thanked De Laurentiis for the opportunity and praised the local supporters for understanding him.

Conte guided Napoli to their fourth Scudetto in the 2024-25 season, but the following campaign proved less successful. The Partenopei finished second to Inter in Serie A, securing only the Supercoppa Italiana. Napoli concluded this season with 76 points, marking the first time a team managed by Conte failed to reach 80 points in a single Serie A year. Even so, his 62 percent win rate remains the third highest in Napoli history, trailing only Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti.

Speculation has heavily linked Conte with the vacant national team coaching position after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup. However, he dismissed reports of an immediate appointment, clarifying that there is currently zero agreement between him and the Italian Football Federation. He also referenced rumors regarding outgoing Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, questioning whether the federation possesses the financial resources required to hire a top-tier coach.