De Laurentiis warning for Conte: ‘If not happy, then change scenery’ after 1 year

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has again cast doubt on Antonio Conte’s future after winning the Scudetto. ‘If someone isn’t happy in an environment, he needs a change of scenery, just like Luciano Spalletti.’

The coach came in last summer and steered his team from a 10^th-place finish to victory in the Serie A title, as last night’s 2-0 win over Cagliari proved enough to beat Inter by one point at the top of the table.

However, Conte has dropped many hints that he could try to walk away at the end of this season, and now De Laurentiis is putting all the pressure on his coach to make a decision.

De Laurentiis won’t work to convince Conte

Speaking at his birthday party this evening, the President was asked by TG1 news on RAI whether Conte would stay.

“Is this a question to ask about a marriage? If someone isn’t happy in an environment, then he needs a change of scenery, just like Spalletti did,” replied De Laurentiis.

“There is respect with Conte, I thank him for the Scudetto two years after the last one. It is not easy for a club in the South of Italy to win two Serie A titles in the space of three years.”

When Spalletti won the Scudetto in 2023, he asked to be released from his contract and within weeks had taken the Italy job.

While Conte had been approached in November 2023, it was not until the summer of 2024 that he accepted the Napoli role.

“I had been tracking Conte for years. When we met in the Maldives, there was a rapport of understanding and respect. When I asked him to come and help us out in November 2023, he said to wait, as it was not his squad.”

Much as De Laurentiis did not try too hard to convince Spalletti to remain, he is also leaving the ball in Conte’s court.

“Compared to the Spalletti Scudetto, this was one we secured in the final mile. It’s not true that this was a weaker league, though, as all the teams strengthened.”