Recent reports from Italy suggest that Vincenzo Italiano is now the primary candidate to take over as head coach of Napoli, succeeding Antonio Conte. This development follows a series of meetings between Italiano’s representatives and the Napoli management on Tuesday.
Italiano Takes the Lead Over Allegri in Napoli Coaching Race
Napoli and President Aurelio De Laurentiis are actively seeking a new coach after Antonio Conte’s departure at the end of the 2025-26 season, which concluded a year after he guided the team to their fourth Scudetto title.
Initially, Maurizio Sarri was considered a strong contender for the Napoli head coach position, but he is now set to reunite with Cristiano Giuntoli at Atalanta.
Napoli’s attention has since shifted towards Vincenzo Italiano and Massimiliano Allegri. This morning’s reports confirmed that discussions were scheduled between the Napoli hierarchy and the representatives of both potential coaches on Tuesday.
According to information from sources such as Gianluca Di Marzio, Sky Sport Italia, and Calciomercato.com, Italiano has emerged as the frontrunner for the Napoli role following Tuesday’s round of talks.
Italiano has one year remaining on his current contract with Bologna. He is expected to meet with Bologna management in the coming days to discuss the possibility of an early termination of his contract, with reports indicating this meeting will occur on Thursday.
Regarding Allegri, Calciomercato reports that he, like Italiano, would be open to a two-year contract with an option for a third season at Napoli. However, De Laurentiis is reportedly hesitant due to Allegri’s difficult exit from Milan and the significant difference in salary expectations, with Allegri earning approximately €6 million per season at San Siro compared to an estimated €3 million for Italiano at Bologna.
