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Antonio Conte is closing in on his appointment as head coach at Napoli and according to reports in Italy a deal could be confirmed this weekend.
The former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager has been closely linked with the role at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona since April, during a torrid season for the 2023/24 Scudetto winners.
Napoli’s dismal title defense saw the side play under three different head coaches following the departure of Serie A-winning manager Luciano Spalletti, with his replacement Rudi Garcia lasting just six months before being sacked in November.
His successor Walter Mazzarri was only given a seven-month contract for his second spell at the club, ten years after his first, but was sacked after four months and replaced by Francesco Calzona in February.
But as the season draws to a close, Napoli have stepped up their search for a head coach to restart next season – and may have opted for the highly decorated Conte.
Antonio Conte has emerged as the hot favorite to take over as head coach at Napoli
The 2023/24 Scudetto winners have gone through three managers this season, starting with Rudi Garcia (left) before being replaced by Walter Mazzarri (right)
Francesco Calzona was appointed in February but is not expected to remain in the role
From a number of Italian outlets With the likes of Sky Sport Italia, Conte has an advantage over another of the club’s targets, Europa League-winning coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Gasperini claimed the first major trophy of his career on Wednesday evening as his Atalanta side defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in Dublin, handing Xabi Alonso’s glittering side the first defeat of their 2023/24 season.
The 66-year-old openly flirted with leaving Bergamo and, when asked about speculation linking him to the role in Naples, said he was unable to cope with the idea of being lured into a new role.
‘Tonight we will celebrate, tomorrow I will speak with the president. We’ll see,” Gasperini said when asked if he would remain in his current role next season.
‘I’m in a strange situation, a bit like where I’m married with children but met an absolutely beautiful woman.
“Maybe that’s not a good example for me to say on television!”
But Atalanta are said to be keen to retain their manager, who has held the role since 2016, and talks to extend his contract on Friday are said to have gone very well.
In addition to winning the European second-tier club competition, Atalanta also finished fourth in Serie A after an impressive season.
Napoli have also long been interested in Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini
Third candidate Stefano Pioli is now a free agent after being fired by AC Milan on Friday
Napoli are believed to be somewhat daunted by the strength required to win Gasperini from their northern Italian rivals, while Conte has been a free agent since leaving Tottenham in March 2023.
As such, talks have intensified and Conte is even said to be considering a pay cut in a bid to seal the deal.
The third manager under consideration, Stefano Pioli, is also a free agent, having been sacked by AC Milan on Friday after five years at the club.
Despite finishing second in Serie A, Milan currently sit 19 points behind hated rivals Inter ahead of the final day of the season.
