Conte torn over taking on dream job after receiving 'huge Saudi proposal'
Antonio Conte remains undecided over whether to take over as Napoli manager.
Conte has been out of work since being sacked by Tottenham in March 2023, though he remains a highly sought-after coach. Having rejected the chance to take over a team in the Saudi Pro League, the Italian is now being targeted by clubs in his home country.
The frontrunners for the unemployed boss are Napoli, who have endured a miserable season since winning the Serie A title last season. Rudi Garcia was appointed manager in the summer but was sacked after just 16 games in charge.
Walter Mazzarri was then brought in as a caretaker coach until the end of the campaign. But the Italian has been unable to turn their fortunes around, with the reigning champions dwindling in ninth spot in the table, 20 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is now eyeing making a second change in the dugout. According to Il Mattino, Napoli have approached Conte about taking over and have agreed to meet all of his demands.
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De Laurentiis held another meeting with Conte on Sunday evening to attempt to convince him to take over from Mazzarri. The Napoli chief drew up a strong offer of a three year contract worth £6.8million per season.
Conte will also be able to assume complete control in the transfer market, with Gianluca Petrachi coming in as sporting director and close friend Gabriele Oriali becoming assistant boss.
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Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is keen to bring in Conte (Antonio Balasco/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images)There has also been a discussion of a clause allowing Conte to leave the Italian side at will, without any financial penalties. Despite that bumper offer, Conte has put the breaks on the talks.
He remains unsure about taking over the troubled champions, amid their dismal campaign. Back in October, the Italian boss revealed he had rejected a massive offer from a team based in the Middle East.
Speaking to Belve, Conte said: "I’ve rejected a huge proposal from Saudi — I decided to say no. I regretted leaving Juventus after just three years. I’d like to try an experience in Roma or Napoli one day, but I usually prefer to join at the end of the season."
For his part, Mazzarri is keen to things around at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Before Sunday's dreadful 3-0 defeat to Torino, the embattled Napoli boss has insisted he will continue to work hard.
“I want to turn it around in 2024. I trust that in the new year we can really do well in the second half of Serie A. I feel at home at Napoli. What makes me uneasy is that I haven’t yet managed to do what I did during my first time here," Mazzarri said.
"I feel indebted to the fans, who show so much love every day. I try to pass that feeling on to my players too and I’m convinced that soon we’ll reach a positive turning point. Unfortunately, opinions have changed due to our results, and we have to accept that."
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