Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is considering managerial options as the club struggles to secure Champions League qualification, according to reports in Italy. The situation has become increasingly tense following a recent downturn in form, with Napoli suffering eight league defeats this season.
After a promising run of five consecutive victories, including a win against then-second placed Milan, Napoli have won only once in their subsequent five matches – a victory over Cremonese – alongside two draws against Parma and Como, and home defeats to Lazio and Bologna. This slide in performance has prompted De Laurentiis to re-evaluate Antonio Conte’s position.
Last month, De Laurentiis publicly challenged Conte to clarify his commitment to the club, stating he would seek an alternative if Conte did not confirm his desire to stay. Conte has so far avoided a public response, deferring the discussion to a private conversation with the president. This has led De Laurentiis to explore potential replacements, with Maurizio Sarri and Vincenzo Italiano reportedly among the candidates.
Conte is currently under contract with Napoli until 2027, a deal worth approximately €22 million gross per year including his 13 staff members. This represents a significant financial burden for the club, which is aiming to reduce its wage bill from €109 million to a maximum of €90 million next season. The club is therefore anticipating a period of player sales to facilitate this reduction.
De Laurentiis is also questioning whether Conte is the right manager to oversee a shift towards a younger squad, with the club aiming to sign players born after 2003. Data presented to Conte reportedly indicates that, even with wins in their remaining matches, Napoli are projected to finish with 76 points – one less than the team managed by Gennaro Gattuso that finished fifth with 77 points, and only good enough for seventh place in that season. This season is shaping up to be the third-worst in the last 11 campaigns for Napoli, and falls far short of expectations given the €230 million invested in the squad.
