Napoli plan for life after Conte as De Zerbi contact revealed and Italiano shortlisted
Quick summary
A media report says Napoli had already contacted Roberto De Zerbi before Tottenham secured him, while Vincenzo Italiano remains a leading alternative as Antonio Conte openly considers the Italy job. The story points to growing uncertainty around Napoli's coaching situation for next season.
What happened
After Napoli coach Antonio Conte publicly admitted interest in the Italy national team job, reports suggest the club had already started contingency planning. Alfredo Pedulla claims Napoli held talks with Roberto De Zerbi before Tottenham moved first, and that Vincenzo Italiano is still high on Aurelio De Laurentiis' shortlist. Gian Piero Gasperini is also mentioned but appears difficult to prise away from Roma. The report underlines that Napoli may soon face a managerial transition with wider ripple effects across Serie A.
Chance analysis
Managerial uncertainty matters because Conte has a strong tactical and motivational imprint on Napoli, so any departure could materially change team style and short-term expectations. Even before an official move, succession noise can affect squad planning, transfer strategy, and market sentiment around Napoli and rival Serie A clubs.
Napoli face short-term uncertainty around continuity, while Tottenham look positively affected by already moving for De Zerbi.
Treat this as a medium-confidence managerial instability signal for Napoli until Conte's future is officially resolved.