Behind the scenes the Partenopei are trying hard to identify and obtain a new coach after having announced the official confirmation that Antonio Conte will be leaving the club at the end of this season. Filling the shoes of the winner of the greatest prizes in Italian football, a very demanding, yet most decorated manager is an important task. Aurelio De Laurentiis has made it clear, as the Neapolitans do not intend to be at risk this summer.
The Neapolitan president who has a history of being very much hands-on at the club insists the matter needs to be settled as soon as possible. The No 1 target is certainly Maurizio Sarri, the Tuscan coach who under his mandate, from 2015 to 2018, saw the team perform some of the most beautiful and effective football they have played in years and a time cherished by all the Napoli faithful.
Napoli have put concrete offer in front of Sarri, two year contract and a wage of 2.5 Million per season. This is a serious attempt by the Neapolitans to lure him back to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but there is an obstacle to overcome and before anything can be formalized, an agreement needs to be reached between Maurizio Sarri and the Biancoceleste for the cancellation of his contract. The current talks between the parties concerned will undoubtedly slow down any possibility for an immediate deal.
Adding even more complexity to the entire situation is the fact that Sarri isn’t the only coach on the list; in fact, Atlanta are also bidding for his services. Cristiano Giuntoli, their sporting director, who previously worked at the club of Naples and has links with De Laurentiis, is reportedly keen on acquiring Sarri’s signature for Bergamo. The offer made by the Atalantini is similar to the one proposed by Napoli, and thus the Tuscan will have a choice to make when he is released from his Lazio deal.
However, if the deal with Sarri were to fall through, there is always another candidate for the job: Massimiliano Allegri. The former Juventus manager has a career full of silverware in both domestic and European competitions and could undoubtedly bring an authoritative air and vast prestige to the club. But the move is not without problems. Allegri would be earning 5 million euros a year, a substantial increase on Sarri’s offered salary, plus the fact that his Milan contract has an automatic renewal clause if the Rossoneri secure a place in the Champions League. This would consequently pose an even greater challenge to securing Allegri.
The coming weeks will be crucial for Napoli to bring the right manager to their bench.
