Napoli consider Thiago Motta as potential successor amid Conte exit links
Napoli have identified Bologna manager Thiago Motta as a leading candidate to take over at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, should current head coach Antonio Conte depart for the Italian national team. The situation, reported by Italian media including La Gazzetta dello Sport, stems from growing speculation that the Italian Football Federation could target Conte following a disappointing cycle under Luciano Spalletti, with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis reportedly open to a collaborative solution.
While no official approach has been made for Conte, the potential financial relief from his significant salary and the appeal of a national team project have led Napoli to proactively assess the market. Thiago Motta, who was also considered after Spalletti's departure in 2023, is now the preferred profile for the Azzurri. The former Italy international opted to remain with Bologna last summer, a decision vindicated by his extraordinary work in guiding the club into Champions League contention this season with an attractive, possession-based style.
Motta’s previous Serie A head coaching experience at Genoa and Spezia was followed by a brief, less memorable stint at Paris Saint-Germain’s youth setup. His transformative project at Bologna, however, has firmly re-established his reputation, making a move to a club of Napoli’s stature a logical next step for his career. The 41-year-old’s contract with Bologna expires this summer, which could facilitate a move without a transfer fee for his services.
Other names on Napoli’s shortlist include Sassuolo’s Fabio Grosso, whose work with the mid-table side has impressed De Laurentiis, and Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano, a long-term admiration of the Napoli president. Italiano has been linked with the Napoli post during several previous managerial searches, and the current timing could finally align for both parties. De Laurentiis, however, is known for his unpredictable maneuvers in the market, leaving the door open for a surprise, potentially international, appointment.
The backdrop to this planning is Conte’s successful first season in Naples, where he secured a Coppa Italia title and has the club on course for a return to the Champions League, albeit with a disappointing exit from this season’s competition. His potential departure would represent a significant shift for a club that has prized stability under his leadership. For Motta, the Napoli job would offer a high-profile platform to prove his coaching philosophy at the very top level, following his remarkable achievement with Bologna.
