Antonio Conte hinted he could walk away from Napoli at the end of the season, even after securing Champions League football. ‘I will always be grateful for the opportunity.’
The Partenopei had expected to be sure of their top four status last week, but it was postponed by their surprise 3-2 home defeat to Bologna.
Instead, they locked that ticket down this afternoon with a trip to already relegated Pisa.
It didn’t take long to get the result safe with early Scott McTominay and Amir Rrahmani goals, then Rasmus Hojlund put the icing on the cake in stoppages, ending his month-long drought.
However, in his press conference, the coach seemed to set the scene for a departure this summer.
Conte laying groundwork for Napoli exit
PISA, ITALY – MAY 17: Antonio Conte manager of SSC Napoli celebrates the victory after during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi on May 17, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“There is one more match to go. I have a friendly rapport with the President. I arrived at Napoli during a moment of extreme difficulty, after the team finished in 10th place with a sense of depression around the club,” said Conte.
“I had promised that, in the moment that my experience at Napoli was finished, I would leave behind a solid and ambitious group, capable of fighting and of always causing problems for its opponents.
“Remember I always said, we might not be the strongest team, but we must become the toughest. Napoli must cause problems every year for Juventus, Milan and Inter.”
PISA, ITALY – MAY 17: Antonio Conte manager of SSC Napoli celebrates the victory with Alisson Santos of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi on May 17, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Napoli have now qualified for the Champions League and can begin to plan for next season in earnest, with reports of a summit planned between Conte and President Aurelio De Laurentiis, although it might not be necessary.
“The President has known my thoughts for a month already,” revealed the coach.
“We talked about the positive things, and the less positive things. The rapport with him is very calm, he always put his faith in me, regardless of what will happen next year.
“I will always be grateful to him for having been given the opportunity to coach a club like this. You really need to be on the Napoli bench to understand what that means.
“I always said, winning and celebrating at Napoli is the best thing in the world, it is worth 10 times as much as at any other club.”
PISA, ITALY – MAY 17: Alisson Santos of SSC Napoli in action during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi on May 17, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
There have been reports Conte is angling for a second stint on the Italy bench, so leaving Napoli would give him that chance.
