Antonio Conte turns down Napoli offer to become new manager

Napoli have held talks with Italian manager Antonio Conte to see if he would be interested in taking on the manager’s role at the club, as they consider sacking Rudi Garcia.

Italy national team manager Luciano Spalletti won the Partenopei their first Scudetto since 1990 before deciding to leave the club at the end of the season. He has since taken on the job of managing the Azzurri.

Napoli sought out a number of candidates to replace Spalletti, including PSG boss Luis Enrique, before deciding on former AS Roma manager Rudi Garcia.

Garcia has not had the best start to life at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this season, with the champions currently in fifth place, seven points off the pace after only eight matches in the league.

Napoli fell to a defeat at home to Fiorentina in their last match, and have had to deal with issues off the field involving star striker Victor Osimhen and winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as well.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the club has been in dialogue with former Inter Milan and Juventus manager Conte to gauge his interest in the role of manager. Conte has declined their request, instead choosing to spend time with his family.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis will continue to monitor the situation of Garcia at the club this season, and will keep an eye out for any changes in Conte’s situation, as well as other potential managers.