Antonio Conte and Juventus: A Very Clear Message Has Been Sent—and It’s Not a Farewell
Antonio Conte leaves the door open to a possible return to the bench even during the current season, provided, however, that he finds a project capable of convincing him and reigniting his motivation. It’s inevitable, then, to think of Juventus as well, especially considering that the Salento-born coach seems inclined to prioritize a potential opportunity in Italy.
“A mid-season return? If it were worth it…—he explained in an interview with The Athletic—There are many clubs that have somehow lost sight of their history. I’d like to go to one of these clubs to dust off that history and make it shine once again. Clubs where there’s pressure, where you know full well you’re not going just to participate.”
Conte’s priority seems to be Juventus, where the Lecce-born coach kicked off the historic run of nine consecutive league titles. According to reports in *Corriere della Sera*, the coach would even be willing to return mid-season, thus breaking a rule he had always imposed on himself: Throughout his career, Conte has agreed to take over mid-season on only three occasions: at Bari in January 2008, at Atalanta in September 2009, and at Tottenham in November 2021.
His recent decision to turn down a massive offer from Al-Ahli, a club in the Saudi Pro League, also confirms his desire to remain in top-tier soccer. According to Fabrizio Romano, Conte declined the offer because he prefers to wait for his chance in Europe, just as he had done with Fenerbahçe. His name has also been linked to Manchester United, though that prospect currently leaves him uninterested.
These rumors come amid a difficult period for Juventus, with Luciano Spalletti under pressure following disappointing league results, culminating in a heavy defeat against Sassuolo. Juventus CEO Carnevali, however, has stood firmly behind the Tuscan coach: “Changing coaches isn’t my style; we need to plan and build—we have to give it time and be patient.” Spalletti himself responded firmly to questions about his possible dismissal: “Accepting pressure is the cure for learning to live. You feel pressure when you forget who you are.”
It’s not just Juventus: Conte’s name has also been persistently linked to Milan, where Ruben Amorim is going through a rough patch following inconsistent results in Serie A and a defeat in the Europa League against Benfica. The Salento-born coach’s presence in the stands at San Siro during the Milan-Benfica match did not go unnoticed, fueling rumors of a possible move to the Rossoneri and sparking a frenzy among fans on social media, who loudly called for his hiring. Conversely, his absence from the stands at Allianz Stadium during Juventus’ Europa League debut against NEC Nijmegen—a match the team went on to win 5-0—was significant; many interpreted this as a gesture of respect toward Spalletti and a team already under pressure.
