Antonio Conte is reportedly set to leave his post as Napoli head coach despite guiding the club to the Serie A title this season.
The 55-year-old was the mastermind behind the Partenopei's fourth-ever Scudetto which was secured on the final weekend of the season with a 2-0 win over Cagliari.
Napoli are celebrating their second title triumph in three seasons after pipping Conte's former club Inter Milan to first position, winning Italy's top prize by just one point, a year on from finishing as low as 10th in the table.
Conte, who only joined the Partenopei at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, is under contract until June 2027 and enjoyed an open-top bus parade with his team on Monday afternoon around the Bay of Naples.
However, according to Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Conte is set for talks with Napoli's hierarchy over his future and there is a feeling that the meeting will end in his departure.
After visiting the Pope on Tuesday, a decisive meeting will be held during which Conte and Napoli are set to agree to part ways.
© Imago
Conte facing uncertain Napoli future despite winning Serie A title
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis already appears to be preparing for life without Conte, who has been linked with a return to Juventus, telling reporters: "I wish Conte continuing success in his professional life. Thank you, Antonio."
The 76-year-old added: "I must give a sentimental embrace to this man, because he took on a team that was on the brink of disaster and together we reinforced it.
"Then at a certain stage, he had to do without a star like [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia, he managed through incidents and injuries to make do with what he had, using not one, but four or five different tactical systems.
"He showed the whole world that systems are useless, all you need is a great knowledge of what football really means.
"So for him who took us all the way to win the second Scudetto in three years, I ask for an applause, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
It is claimed that Napoli's first choice to replace Conte is former Juventus and AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri, a six-time Serie A winner who has been out of work since being sacked by Juve in May last year.
Should Conte depart, Napoli are keen to 'immediately' step up their pursuit of Allegri and fend off potential competition from his former club Milan, who have also been credited with an interest.
Oliver Thomas
