Despite winning the Scudetto, Conte’s future at Napoli remains unsure, with tension still high between him and the club’s president
Antonio Conte has once again proved himself as a great manager after winning his fifth Serie A title as a manager. His masterful tactics have guided Napoli to their fourth Serie A title, and their second in three years, but doubts linger over his future at the club.
The 55-year-old manager restored Napoli’s reputation after a disastrous title defence last season, cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s most accomplished managers. However, his strained relationship with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis may lead to his departure.
Throughout the campaign, Conte’s outspoken nature has led to tensions with De Laurentiis, with the manager openly criticising the way Napoli is run. Conte has questioned whether he will remain beyond the summer, hinting at uncertainty regarding his continued involvement. “You need to live in the moment.. The fans are ambitious and want success. I’m open to everything, but we’ll need to assess the situation,” he said last month.
Conte joined Napoli last summer amid chaos, following a historically poor title defense and the likely exits of key players like Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Despite these challenges, Conte rebuilt the team in his image, with summer arrivals Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay proving pivotal in Napoli’s resurgence. However, Conte’s frustration was fueled by the club’s unsuccessful attempt to sell Osimhen, who eventually departed on loan to Galatasaray, and the January sale of Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain.
Conte’s concerns about the club’s direction and resources have led him to question whether it’s worth staying for another season.
“I’m happy working in Naples and the fans have been incredible emotionally,” Conte recently said. “But whoever hires me knows I bring expectations. You don’t bring me in and expect a top-four finish to be enough. People expect titles—and I’m fine with that—but I’m not foolish. If the resources aren’t there to match those ambitions, we have a problem.”
If Conte does stay, he will face a demanding schedule with next season’s Champions League participation. Napoli will need to prove they can cope with the increased fixture load, which will be a challenge after benefiting from a lighter schedule this season.
