Conte warning he could quit Napoli: ‘Cannot live on miracles rather than planning’ | OneFootball

Antonio Conte made it clear he is ready to leave Napoli this summer after another tirade at the club. ‘I cannot live on miracles rather than planning. I don’t want to be massacred. I saw looting of our projects.’

The coach had already sparked controversy with his comments during the pre-match conference, where he said that after eight months at the club, he had realised “there are some things you cannot do” at Napoli.

Following the 1-0 victory away to Monza that keeps their Scudetto hopes alive, he doubled down on criticism of high expectations, raising serious question marks about his future.

“I am happy in Naples, so is my family, as there is sun, wonderful food, the people are welcoming, but that is my private life and I cannot just stop there,” said Conte.

“I bring with me a responsibility and you in the media are the first to give it to me, saying that if Conte is on the bench, then the team will win. Seeing as you put that responsibility on me, I don’t want to let the fans down.

“I cannot live on miracles rather than planning.”

Conte hits out at De Laurentiis and Napoli directors

NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 09: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, gives the team instructions during the Serie A match between Napoli and Fiorentina at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 09, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

When it came to President De Laurentiis, the coach was more specific about the situation.

“I have admiration and respect for the President. They asked me to give a helping hand, and I am doing that, but the Napoli fans want to win, and they have this ambition. If they don’t win, they can become nasty.

“I have to calculate everything, I am not stupid. I put big pressure on myself, but I also need the right weapons to fight with, otherwise it’s a massacre and I don’t want to be massacred.”

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 14: Antonio Conte Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between Napoli and Empoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 14, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Does that mean Conte intends to leave Napoli at the end of the season? His contract would allow for that, as long as he simply gives up on the outstanding wages.

“I will sit down with the President to talk and then we’ll see. The income from Champions League qualification will arrive, the sale of Kvaratskhelia helped us, but now we’ll talk to the President clearly.

“I gave everything, with interest. Now we want to win along with my lads, who are killing themselves with hard work.

“I have a good rapport with De Laurentiis, but I also need respect. Yesterday I saw looting and zero respect. I don’t care about that, but I was disappointed with the looting of our projects. I have to protect myself, otherwise it will have been a wonderful journey together.

“I am doing this for the Napoli fans and also for me. I will not hang my backside out there and let myself be abused.”

Nonetheless, they are still in the running for the Scudetto and are currently level at the top of the Serie A table with Inter, awaiting their trip to Bologna on Sunday.

“We must keep believing and also have a little bit of luck. Unfortunately, luck has been against us since January,” added Conte.

“We believe anyway, as the players are remarkable in difficult situations and we are building solid foundations through those difficulties. Seeing all these fans cheering us on is emotional, but it also gives me enormous responsibility.”