Conte Nears Napoli Exit, Lukaku Pleads

Romelu Lukaku has urged Antonio Conte to stay at Napoli, but the manager’s departure appears to have already been confirmed by Aurelio De Laurentiis.

WHAT HAPPENED?
Just days after Napoli sealed their fourth Scudetto title by beating Cagliari 2-0 in their final game of the 2024-25 campaign, Sky Italia reported that manager Conte could part ways with the club, despite having two years left on his existing deal. On Monday, as Napoli players and the coaching staff celebrated the league title on an open-top bus parade across Naples, star striker Lukaku vowed that he would do his best to change the head coach’s mind.

WHAT ROMELU LUKAKU SAID
Speaking to reporters, the Belgian forward said: “There’s too much emotion. We did a great job and I’m happy for all these people, as well as for us, the team, the club and the coach. We never gave up and we deserve this success.”

Lukaku added on his bond with Conte: “The call lasted 15 seconds. As soon as I saw his number, I immediately understood and got ready [to leave Chelsea last summer]. He’s my Phil Jackson and I’m his Shaquille O’Neal. I want to enjoy this moment. I have a three-year contract and I will do everything to keep him (Conte) here. I always talk to him, I told him to stay.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE
At the same trophy parade, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis hinted that Conte will leave the team as he told reporters: “I wish Conte continuing success in his professional life. Thank you, Antonio. I must give a sentimental embrace to this man, because he took on a team that was on the brink of disaster and together we reinforced it.

“Then at a certain stage, he had to do without a star like [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia, he managed through incidents and injuries to make do with what he had, using not one, but four or five different tactical systems. He showed the whole world that systems are useless, all you need is a great knowledge of what football really means. So for him who took us all the way to win the second Scudetto in three years, I ask for an applause, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Goal.com