Antonio Conte is reportedly set to leave Napoli by mutual agreement after the 2025-26 season, with Maurizio Sarri, Massimiliano Allegri, and Fabio Grosso among the leading candidates to replace him.
Antonio Conte is preparing to say goodbye to Napoli after reports in Italy confirmed that the experienced coach will leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 season following a mutual agreement with president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
According to multiple Italian outlets, Conte’s final game in charge of Napoli will come against Udinese at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday evening.
🚨 BREAKING: Antonio Conte has decided to LEAVE Napoli at the end of the season, it’s over.
Conte made his decision and informed the president De Laurentiis already one month ago.
There will be no exit fee, Conte will leave without severance pay and without any agreement… pic.twitter.com/yIcOdkMCMZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 19, 2026
The reports state that Conte and De Laurentiis have reached a “gentlemen’s agreement” to terminate the coach’s contract peacefully. Despite still having one year remaining on his deal, Napoli will reportedly not have to pay any compensation or severance fee for his departure.
Italian media described the smooth agreement as a sign of mutual respect between Conte and De Laurentiis, especially considering both men have often displayed fiery personalities throughout their careers. Their working relationship appears to have remained strong despite occasional tensions.
Conte’s departure after two seasons continues a familiar trend in his managerial career. Napoli will become the eighth club he has left after two years or fewer, or the ninth if his spell with the Italy national team is included. Juventus remains the only side where he stayed beyond two seasons.
Antonio conte has not asked for money, nor is this separation about economics or even the project itself. Conte will leave while maintaining an excellent and transparent relationship with the De Laurentiis family. The coach made this decision around a month ago. It’s entirely his… pic.twitter.com/KnXqVLjxA2
— Napoli Zone (@TheNapoliZone) May 19, 2026
Sunday’s clash against Udinese will mark Conte’s 91st match in charge of Napoli and his 76th Serie A game with the club. During his time in Naples, he has averaged 2.07 points per match in the league and recorded an overall win percentage of 56.67 percent across all competitions.
With Conte’s exit now expected, speculation over his replacement has already intensified. Reports claim Napoli have begun exploring several options ahead of the 2026-27 season, with a few names emerging as leading candidates.
One possibility is a return for Maurizio Sarri, who previously coached Napoli between 2015 and 2018. Sarri’s future at Lazio is currently uncertain, and Napoli could look to bring him back to the Stadio Maradona.
Massimiliano Allegri is also considered a serious contender if he decides to leave AC Milan at the end of the season, while reports suggest De Laurentiis has already held multiple conversations with him.
Other names under consideration include Sassuolo coach Fabio Grosso, who is reportedly on Napoli’s shortlist, while Atalanta’s Raffaele Palladino and Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano are also being monitored.
However, current reports describe them as secondary options compared to Sarri and Allegri as Napoli prepare for another major managerial change.
