Conte Opens Door to Italy Return as Napoli President Shows Support

Antonio Conte has positioned himself as a candidate for the vacant Italy national team manager role, receiving unexpected backing from his club president at Napoli. The former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss made his intentions clear following Monday night's crucial 1-0 Serie A victory over Milan at San Siro.

The Italian tactician, who guided Napoli to the Scudetto last season, was forthright about his ambitions when questioned about potentially succeeding Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso resigned from the Azzurri role on Friday after Italy's shocking failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, leaving the federation scrambling for a replacement.

"It's expected that my name appears on the list of candidates for the national team," Conte declared in his post-match press conference. "If I was the federation's president, I would consider my name. But you know my contractual situation - I'll meet with my president at the end of the season and we will see."

The 54-year-old coach's comments came as a surprise to many, given his contractual obligations to Napoli running through 2027. However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has shown remarkable flexibility regarding his star manager's national team ambitions.

In an exclusive interview with Calcionapoli24, De Laurentiis made a stunning declaration: "If Conte asked me to allow him to become the national team coach again, I would say yes." The president's support represents a significant shift, particularly given the pair's well-documented tensions that nearly led to Conte's departure last summer.

Conte's previous tenure with the national team from 2014 to 2016 produced mixed results, highlighted by an impressive run to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals where Italy were eliminated on penalties by eventual champions Germany. His tactical acumen and ability to maximize limited resources made him popular among supporters during that period.

Currently, Napoli sits seven points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with seven matches remaining in the season. Despite the gap, Conte has maintained his focus on club duties while keeping his options open for international opportunities.

De Laurentiis, however, added an important caveat to his support. "As he's very intelligent, as long as there's no federation president, and up to now there hasn't been, I don't think he sees himself in charge of something so disorganized," the Napoli chief explained.

The Italian Football Federation faces significant upheaval, with president Gabriele Gravina resigning just 24 hours after Gattuso's departure. This institutional chaos has complicated the search for a new national team manager, with any appointment unlikely before the federation's extraordinary meeting scheduled for June 22.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has also emerged as a potential candidate for the Italy position, adding another layer of intrigue to the selection process. Both coaches bring extensive Serie A experience and tactical expertise that could benefit a national team in desperate need of renewal.

For Conte, the opportunity represents a chance to complete unfinished business with the Azzurri. His previous international tenure ended prematurely when he chose to pursue club opportunities, but the current circumstances may present the perfect moment for a reunion.

The coming weeks will prove crucial as Italy's football hierarchy attempts to restore stability and chart a path forward following their latest World Cup disappointment.