Antonio Conte may return to the helm of the Italian national team.

Antonio Conte is back in the spotlight and may once again take the helm of the Italian national football team, in a scenario that promises to shake up Italian football. According to exclusive information from the daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian coach is strongly inclined to return to the Azzurra bench, while Napoli, his current club, would not place obstacles to a departure this summer.

Following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso, Conte emerges as the leading candidate to take on the role of national team coach. The contract of the Neapolitan coach runs until June 2027, but the desire to return to the national team seems to be stronger. It is worth noting that Conte previously led Italy from 2014 to 2016, guiding the team to the quarter-finals of the European Championship, where the Azzurra was eliminated only on penalties by Germany, in one of the most dramatic phases of his career.

Sources close to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) reveal that Conte has very positive memories of his time at the helm of the national team and that his experience and strong character are seen as key to revitalizing the national squad. The general impression is that the 56-year-old coach is the right man to restore glory to the Italians.

Another essential point for this potential appointment is the approval of Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who, according to La Gazzetta, is willing to facilitate Conte’s departure, even with a year still remaining on his contract. This openness will be even more feasible if Giovanni Malagò is elected as the new president of the FIGC, a decision that should be made by June 22.

Meanwhile, for the friendly matches in June, the federation is expected to appoint an interim coach, with Silvio Baldini being the favorite for the temporary role, while the selection of the new head coach is likely to be made only at the end of June or the beginning of July, after the election of the FIGC president.

Amid this whirlwind of appointments, the names of Massimiliano Allegri and Roberto Mancini also emerge as potential replacements. However, Allegri has already stated that he is happy at AC Milan, distancing himself from this possibility. For his part, Mancini is embroiled in controversy, mainly due to his unexpected departure from the Italian national team in 2023, followed by his swift appointment as head coach of Saudi Arabia.

The imminent turnaround in the technical management of the Italian national team promises to shake up European football and reignite the hopes of a team urgently seeking to rediscover its best form. Antonio Conte could be the decisive piece for this revival, and the coming months will be crucial for the future of the Azzurra. Stay tuned for updates and in-depth analyses on this saga that is dominating international football news.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.