Worrying details of Antonio Conte’s Spurs future emerge as he postpones contract talks
When Antonio Conte delays talks about extending his contract, it is usually because he has decided to leave.
It happened at Juventus, Inter Milan, and it is now happening at Tottenham Hotspur.
The signs of a split with Tottenham are all there, and Conte has a history of leaving clubs early.
Tottenham suffered a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United on Wednesday, just a few days after insisting that his contract is “not a priority issue.”
When journalists ask him about his contract, the Italian coach usually raises his voice and responds emotionally because he dislikes questions that cannot be answered immediately.
He only cares about what happens on the field, training, and results, and he doesn’t want to hear about anything else.
Even if he decides to leave at the end of the season, Conte is a professional who will give his blood, sweat, and tears to Tottenham, the club, and the fans.
Make no mistake, he will devote his entire energy to assisting his current team.
Unfortunately, his contract at White Hart Lane expires next summer, making now an excellent time to relocate.
Conte believes he needs to play for a top club, and if he cannot find one in London, he would prefer to return to his family in Italy.
Tottenham’s sloppy defeat to Manchester United will undoubtedly irritate Conte and his staff, who are still reeling from the untimely death of fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone at the age of 61.
Losing to Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag bothered him greatly because both are charismatic coaches.
Spurs’ team is focused and well-prepared, but it may lack the technical ability to win the Premier League.
This could prompt Conte to reconsider his personal satisfaction in north London and begin making plans for the future elsewhere.
When he is angry, he can become violent, even against his owners and teammates. On Wednesday, it was midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur who was enraged when the manager yelled “pass the ball, d***head!” ‘ at him.
Those actions may appear excessive to those outside Italy, but Conte is a ‘dictatorial’ manager who believes he has the authority to criticize or encourage his players through any means.
Living and working with Conte is difficult: he expects the best, he always wants to win, and he is not afraid to pick fights with anyone.
There is a strong belief in Italy that he wishes to return to Juventus in order to rebuild the team, lift it out of its current difficulties, and surpass incumbent manager Massimiliano Allegri as the man with the most Serie A titles in Turin this millennium.
Juventus DNA
Juventus and Conte share an unbreakable bond that has endured even after he joined Inter Milan, the Old Lady’s bitter rival.
The Apulian coach recognizes that he is at a crossroads, and that his greatest need now that he is 50 is to take on even the most difficult challenges.
Winning the Scudetto at Inter in two years was a near-impossible feat, and it ended his relationship with the majority of Juve fans.
His financial demands would also be unlikely to be insurmountable, as Juventus already pays Allegri around £7.8 million.
Conte has already earned a lot in his career, and the balance of this situation may help to facilitate an agreement.
Juventus vice-chairman Pavel Nedved is a big fan of Conte’s work, having played and won with him in Turin.
Many within the club want to move on from Allegri amid the club’s current struggles – they currently sit eighth in Serie A – and appoint a new man, who would likely replace Allegri in June 2023.
The storm that has engulfed the team is not yet over, and it will take an extraordinary turnaround to persuade the board to believe in Allegri.
Allegri has the confidence of chairman Andrea Agnelli, but the results are clear: by the Halloween period, Juventus is effectively out of contention for both the Champions League and the Serie A title.
Conte is regarded as a cure for the disease afflicting the club this season in light of this sporting disaster.
He could return to Turin to live with his family and potentially enjoy an even more successful second spell at the club where he spent the vast majority of his playing career.
The only impediment to his return is his history of tense relationships with Agnelli and the fans. However, disagreements with Agnelli, if he remains Juve president, could be easily resolved with a successful season that sees the club return to the top of Serie A.
Worrying details of Antonio Conte’s Spurs future emerge as he postpones contract talks
