Antonio Conte has officially announced his exit from Napoli, ending an intense two-year spell at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Italian coach revealed that he had decided to step down nearly a month earlier, attributing his departure to a strained atmosphere within the club and a lack of internal cohesion.

Conte criticises ‘toxic’ environment

Following Napoli’s 1-0 victory over Udinese on the final day of the Serie A season, Conte spoke candidly about his reasons for leaving. Despite achieving domestic glory by leading Napoli to the Scudetto in the 2024-25 campaign, the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager suggested that the club’s environment had become increasingly unmanageable.

He said: “At Napoli, I failed in one thing — I couldn’t bring unity to the club, and when you can’t achieve that, it becomes difficult to compete with other teams. I’ve seen a lot of poison, and those who spread it are failures. Napoli doesn’t need failures or people seeking attention. It needs dedicated people who truly love the team, like the fan who buys a ticket. Those who are harmful should stay away. I failed in this sense, and I realised I would never be able to unite the environment. For me, that was essential, so I decided to step aside.”

Decision finalised a month earlier

Conte clarified that his decision was not made in response to the conclusion of the Serie A season, where Napoli finished second behind champions Inter Milan. Instead, he had reached his decision weeks earlier after feeling that the club’s direction no longer aligned with his professional principles and vision for success.

He continued: “After the Bologna match, I began to notice situations I didn’t like, and it takes courage to speak the truth. I’ve never been part of an anonymous season, and I never will be. I was ready to step aside. Some new signings didn’t blend well with the existing group, leading to difficult dynamics that needed to be addressed. I called the president a month ago and told him, ‘Given our friendship, I feel my journey here is ending.’ It was entirely my decision.”

Italy speculation and Guardiola remarks

Conte’s sudden availability has inevitably prompted speculation linking him with the Italian national team job. However, the coach was quick to dismiss any current talks with the Azzurri, while also questioning whether the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has the ambition and financial capacity to recruit a world-renowned coach like Pep Guardiola, who recently confirmed his departure from Manchester City.

“There’s absolutely nothing between me and the Italian Federation regarding the national team role — zero so far. Let’s see what happens in the future,” Conte said. “There isn’t even a Federation president yet. But let me say this — is Italy truly ready to appoint a top-tier coach? I read about Pep Guardiola. If I had to suggest a name, I’d say Pep. But do they have the funds to make it happen? It’s too soon to say. I have no agreements at this point.”

De Laurentiis acknowledges Conte’s decision

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis joined Conte in the press conference, confirming that although he had hoped the coach might reconsider, the club must now prepare for a new chapter. The Napoli chief expressed confidence in the team’s strength and depth despite the managerial change.

“He can always change his mind, so I told him my door remains open. Tomorrow afternoon he will confirm his final decision, and then we’ll move forward to find the best solution for Napoli. Keep in mind, we already have around thirty capable players, so with just a few smart additions, this team will remain highly competitive compared to our rivals,” De Laurentiis stated.