Naples, Italy — Antonio Conte don bring Napoli back from edge of disaster, carry dem to the top of Serie A, but him future for the club dey shaky even after dis successful season. Di fiery 55-year-old don surpass pre-season expectations, helping Napoli win dem fourth Scudetto and second in three seasons.
Despite di triumph, Conte fit waka come summer after just one season as him relationship with di Napoli owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, don dey tension since di campaign start. Conte don express him dissatisfaction publicly about how De Laurentiis dey run Napoli, especially during di intense weeks of di title race.
“You have to live in di present… di people want to win and are ambitious. I’m open to everything, but we need to see where we are,” Conte talk wen dem ask am about him future last month.
Conte take charge last summer as Napoli dey recover from dem worst title defence for Serie A history, with di stars from dat victory, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, dey look for escape route.
In a short time, Conte don transform Napoli, with Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay as him standout players after dem join from Chelsea and Manchester United respectively in August. Conte don dey vex about di inadequate signings early for him tenure; by di time Lukaku and McTominay arrive, Napoli don already play two league fixtures.
Di club’s failed attempt to get big money for Osimhen loom over dem until e eventually go Galatasaray on loan, while di sale of Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain in January left Conte pondering if e go make sense to remain.
“I’m happy in Naples and I’m working for fans who give me something emotionally. Dat important. But whoeva employ me sabi say I bring high expectations,” Conte add. “People hire me and think ‘you have to finish first or second, even if you finished 10th di year before, and you have to fight for di title. Qualifying for Europe no go do.”
Conte don call out clubs before about dem no dey spend money well, and dis no go be di last time. When him leave Juventus in summer of 2014, after winning three Serie A titles back to back, he blame lack of investment for im failure in Europe. He compare di Juve manager role to sit down for 100-euro restaurant with just 10 euros, and dat comebacks later wen di coach after am, Massimiliano Allegri, carry Juve to two Champions League finals in three years.
Despite De Laurentiis’ controversial behavior and how him dey overlook others’ needs, di owner don build Napoli back to prominence since him take over dem for 2004 from bankruptcy. If Conte decide to stay, him go need to prove say him fit handle di tough schedule wey deposed champions Inter Milan don face dis season. Inter don play 17 matches more than Napoli, an advantage wey no go dey available for Conte and di club next season.
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