Napoli are already drawing up a contingency plan to address the potential departure of Antonio Conte, as the manager remains heavily linked with a return to the Italian national team.
According to Corriere del Mezzogiorno (via CalcioNapoli24), Conte is reportedly very keen on managing the Azzurri once again and would immediately accept the position should the formal call arrive from the federation.
Notably, Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined not to be caught off guard by a sudden vacancy in the dugout and has prepared a comprehensive shortlist of potential replacements. Thiago Motta and current Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano remain prominent names in the club’s thinking, maintaining the interest the Partenopei have shown in both tacticians in previous seasons.
Furthermore, the club is also considering domestic profiles such as Sassuolo manager Fabio Grosso and Genoa’s Daniele De Rossi as viable candidates to lead the technical project.
Indeed, the scouting for a new head coach extends to some of the most highly-regarded young managers in the game, though certain options appear more difficult to realize. While Cesc Fàbregas and Francesco Farioli are also present on De Laurentiis’ shortlist, the report indicates that the chances of hiring either at this stage remain remote. Besides, the Spaniard has a long-term deal at Como.
Consequently, the future of the Napoli bench remains intrinsically tied to the vacancy at the head of the national team. With Conte ready to jump at the opportunity to lead his country, the Napoli hierarchy is moving swiftly to ensure that the transition to a new era – should it be necessary, is handled with maximum strategic clarity.
