Conte: 'No Italy call, Romero best defender at 2026 World Cup'
Quick summary
Napoli manager Antonio Conte claims Tottenham defender Cristian Romero is the best centre-back at the 2026 World Cup, while noting that Italy never called him up despite his eligibility.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAntonio Conte maintains he was ‘not contacted’ for the Italy job, and advises Inter to go all-in for Tottenham’s Cristian Romero. ‘He’s the best defender by a mile at the World Cup.’
The former Napoli coach is a free agent after negotiating a termination by mutual consent with the club, a year on from winning the Scudetto.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) He has been heavily linked with a return to the Azzurri bench , where he already sat from 2014 to 2016, along with Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo.
Conte on Italy, Romero and World Cup campaign NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 24: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 24, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) “I was already the Italy coach and it was a wonderful experience,” Conte told DAZN Italia.
“I think that people with strong values have been put in charge. We all know Marco Malagò is a strong figure, while Paolo Maldini could not remain out of football. He was in my view the best ever Italian defender, but also did very well as a director at Milan.
“What I must say is that the most important thing is that there is a shared vision, that it is embraced without ifs or buts. That is the prerogative to build something important.”
The big question is has the FIGC and its new leaders contacted Conte to ask for his availability for Italy?
“No,” was his reply.
COMO, ITALY – MAY 02: SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte looks on during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Conte was in the DAZN Italia studio as a pundit ahead of tonight’s 2026 World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.
As a former Tottenham Hotspur coach, he had some advice amid reports Inter are eager to snap up Cuti Romero from Spurs.
“His performance in this World Cup has been rather under-estimated. He is having an extraordinary tournament, the best defender by a mile compared to all the others.
“He has improved so much. I read that some Italian teams want him, but I don’t know if Tottenham want to sell… He is a tough player, and Argentine’s still play street football, which is a positive thing that we are missing in Italy,” said Conte.
“Every match is it’s either you or me, so irritating your opponent is part of the game.”
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What happened
Speaking in a press conference, Napoli head coach Antonio Conte praised Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina centre-back Cristian Romero as the standout defender of the 2026 World Cup. Conte highlighted that despite holding Italian citizenship and being eligible to represent the Azzurri, Romero was never called up by Italy and instead committed to Argentina. The comments underline Romero's status as one of the premier defenders in world football and reinforce Conte's tactical appreciation for aggressive, ball-playing centre-backs, a profile he has historically favoured.
Chance analysis
Conte's endorsement carries weight given his track record of managing elite centre-backs (Chiellini, Bonucci, van Dijk, Romero himself at Tottenham). For prediction systems, the takeaway is that Romero is widely regarded as a top-tier defender entering the 2026 World Cup, which could shape his market value and Tottenham's defensive expectations. The Italy-eligibility angle is a subplot that won't materially affect on-pitch outcomes but adds context to Romero's international career trajectory.
Treat Romero as a tier-one centre-back for 2026 World Cup and Tottenham defensive metrics; his performances should be benchmarked against elite peers.