Antonio Conte announces departure from Napoli and acknowledges shortcomings in the team.

Antonio Conte confirms controversial departure from Napoli: “I failed to unite the locker room and that costs titles”

After weeks of intense rumors, Antonio Conte left no room for doubt: the Italian coach will indeed leave his position at Napoli at the end of this season. The confirmation came immediately after his team’s hard-fought victory in Serie A against Udinese (1-0), a match that turned out to be Conte’s last at the helm of the Neapolitans.

In a statement filled with frankness and self-criticism, Conte admitted the main reason that led him to make this drastic decision. “About a month ago, I contacted the president without asking for anything, and he also didn’t say anything to me. I felt that our project was coming to an end, with no room for changes,” revealed the coach.

But the central point of his departure is linked to an internal problem that he could not resolve: “I failed in one thing in Naples: I could not bring cohesion to the environment, and that makes it difficult to compete with others,” he stated, clearly frustrated with the tensions in the dressing room. “I saw too many arguments, but Naples needs serious people. Those people must be removed because they are harmful. I failed because I did not unite the environment, so I can only raise my hands,” he added, taking full responsibility for the failure in this regard.

Conte did not hold back in his praise for the club and the fans, emphasizing that it was a privilege to manage Napoli: “It was an honor for me. I thank the president and the fans who understood me.”

Regarding his immediate future, the Italian coach maintained an air of mystery concerning the possibility of taking over the Italian national team. “I remember what I said about the national team: I was clear. If I were president of the federation, I would consider my candidacy. Guardiola’s name has also been mentioned. Is the Italian federation ready to have a top coach? At the moment, there is nothing. Do they have the means to hire Guardiola? I would be the first to say he should be hired, but is there money? All coaching positions are already filled,” he commented, leaving doubts about the market and the management of the federation hanging.

For now, Conte admits he will take the opportunity to rest and, who knows, pay a visit to Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, in Los Angeles during the World Cup: “Maybe I will rest and visit Aurelio in Los Angeles for the World Cup.”

This announcement marks the end of a turbulent yet intense chapter in Conte’s career, as he leaves Napoli with a legacy marked by highs and lows, but above all by the inability to unite a group that seemed destined for great achievements. The question that remains is: who will be the next to try to tame the Neapolitan dressing room? And will the Italian federation be able to bring a true star to the national team’s bench? The future will certainly provide the answer.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.