The Napoli head coach, Antonio Conte, has dismissed suggestions that he has already reached any agreement with the Italian Football Federation over becoming Italy’s next national team manager, while also floating Pep Guardiola as an ideal candidate for the job.
Amid continued speculation over who will eventually take charge of the Italy national football team, Conte insisted that no formal talks or commitments are in place at this stage.
“There’s zero between the Italian Federation to become the head coach. Zero so far. Let’s see in the future,” as reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Monday.
He further highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the federation’s leadership structure, suggesting that even key administrative decisions are still unresolved.
“There’s not even the Federation president yet… but let me say. Is Italy ready to appoint a top coach?”
Conte also questioned whether the financial capacity exists to attract a world-class manager, using Guardiola as a benchmark for the level of appointment he believes would suit the national team setup.
“I read about Pep Guardiola. Should I suggest a name, I’d say Pep. But… do they have the funds to make it happen? It’s too early to say,” Conte said.
The comments come at a time when discussions over Italy’s long-term coaching direction continue to intensify, with Conte’s own name regularly mentioned among possible successors should a vacancy arise.
