Conte willing to accept 50% pay cut for Italy role, would still cost double Mancini's salary
Quick summary
Antonio Conte is reportedly willing to take a 50% pay cut to become Italy national team head coach, though his salary would still be roughly double what Roberto Mancini earned.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceWednesday’s reports claim that Antonio Conte is willing to take a significant pay-cut in order to return to his previous role in charge of the Italy national team, but even after that reduction, he is still expected to cost twice as much as his main rival for the job, Roberto Mancini.
Conte will cost Italy twice as much as Mancini in wages Mancini and Conte, two former CTs, are the leading candidates to come in and take over from Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down shortly after Italy’s World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March.
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: FIGC President Gabriele Gravina attends the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) FIGC President Gabriele Gravina also resigned after Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row and has since been replaced by Giovanni Malago, who was formally elected earlier this month.
Malago will hold his first federal council meeting of the FIGC on Wednesday afternoon, for the first time since his appointment to the role of President of the Italian FA.
Several topics are expected to be discussed at the federal council meeting, including the election of the federation’s vice-Presidents. In the background, however, discussions over a new head coach and technical director for the Italy national team continue in the background.
Conte remains among the frontrunners and according to reports over the last week, is willing to give his priority to Italy, despite reports of a staggering €20m-per-season contract offer to take over from Sergio Conceicao as head coach of Saudi Pro League Al-Ittihad.
That is a significant increase from the reported €8m-per-season net salary that Conte earned during his time with Napoli, which made him the best-paid coach in Serie A.
According to the latest updates from Calciomercato.com , Conte is willing to take a 50% cut on his previous wage packet in order to take over as head coach of Italy, on a salary of around €4m per year.
AL RAYYAN, QATAR – JANUARY 25: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia reacts during the AFC Asian Cup Group F match between Saudi Arabia and Thailand at Education City Stadium on January 25, 2024 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) That is still twice as much as what it would likely cost to employ Mancini, who would ‘settle’ for a salary of €2m per year according to Wednesday’s report.
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What happened
Reports indicate Antonio Conte is open to a significant pay reduction in order to take charge of the Italy national team. Despite the 50% salary cut, his compensation would still be approximately double that of his predecessor Roberto Mancini. The negotiations reflect Conte's strong desire to return to management at international level, while the FIGC weighs the financial implications of hiring one of the most decorated Italian coaches available. The development comes as Italy searches for a permanent successor following Mancini's departure.
Chance analysis
Conte's availability and willingness to negotiate on salary significantly raises the ceiling for the Italy job. He brings proven elite-level tactical credentials from Juventus, Chelsea, Inter, and Tottenham, which would be a major upgrade for the Azzurri. The financial structure — 50% cut but still double Mancini — suggests FIGC is seriously prioritizing quality over cost, which could accelerate a formal appointment. For prediction systems, a Conte-led Italy materially changes competitive expectations in UEFA Nations League and qualifying campaigns.
A confirmed Conte appointment would be a strong positive for Italy's tactical quality and competitive outlook, though financial commitment from FIGC is significant.
If Conte is appointed Italy coach, expect a tactical and competitive uplift for the Azzurri across upcoming international fixtures.