Antonio Conte has decided to leave Napoli at the end of the 2025-26 season after informing president Aurelio De Laurentiis of his intention around a month ago, according to multiple media reports.
No exit fee or severance payment is said to be involved, and Conte does not have another job lined up at this stage, reports claim.
The reported amicable departure comes amid speculation linking him with the Italy national team vacancy following Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation. It brings to a close a project at Napoli that many expected would last longer.
Conte joined the club in June 2024. In his debut season, he oversaw 41 matches, recording 25 wins, 11 draws and five defeats — a run that produced a 61 per cent win rate and delivered the 2024-25 Serie A title. In doing so, he became the first manager in history to win the Scudetto with three different clubs, having previously triumphed with Juventus and Inter Milan.
His impact domestically has been significant: he guided Napoli from a 10th-place finish to Serie A champions in his first campaign, before steering them to a strong second-place position in the current 2025-26 season.
Conte is reported to believe his cycle at the club is now complete after establishing a winning foundation, although there are also claims of disagreements over transfer budgets.
Maurizio Sarri, currently at Lazio, is reportedly the favorite to succeed him at Napoli this summer if the change materializes.
Speaking after Lazio’s 2-0 defeat to Roma on Sunday, May 17, Sarri appeared to signal he could leave the club, claiming he “wasn’t listened to at all.” Clearly frustrated, he said he was “far from happy” and added: “If our plans don’t align, there’s no point in moving forward.”
He continued: “…Perhaps the club isn’t happy either. Let’s finish the season and see if they have anything to say to me.”
