Antonio Conte confirms Napoli exit, citing 'poisonous' atmosphere

Antonio Conte has officially confirmed his departure from Napoli following a two-year tenure. The announcement came after the final Serie A match of the season, a 1-0 victory over Udinese. Despite leading the club to the Scudetto in 2024-25, Conte admitted he was unable to foster the necessary unity within the organization.

I failed in one thing: I wasn't able to bring compactness to Napoli. I've seen a lot of poison and those who spread it are failures. It needs serious people who want to love the team, instead these people should stay away because they are harmful. I understood that I would never be able to compact the environment, so I raised my hands. Antonio Conte

The decision was not a snap reaction to the end of the campaign, where Napoli finished as runners-up to Inter. Conte revealed he had informed club president Aurelio De Laurentiis of his intentions a month ago. He noted that certain internal dynamics and recruitment issues following the match against Bologna made it clear that his journey with the club was nearing its conclusion.

Addressing speculation regarding the vacant Italy national team role, Conte dismissed any immediate agreement, stating his status with the Federation is currently at "zero." He also commented on the possibility of a high-profile appointment for the Azzurri, jokingly suggesting Pep Guardiola while questioning whether the Italian federation possesses the necessary financial resources to secure such a target.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis acknowledged the manager's decision, noting that while he had hoped for a change of heart, the club must now prepare for the future. He remains optimistic about the team's competitiveness, emphasizing that the current squad foundation requires minimal adjustments to remain a top contender.