News Focus
- Two top Italian clubs are competing to sign Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri for the 2026-27 season
- Current Napoli boss Antonio Conte will leave the club in the summer of 2026 after securing the Scudetto
- Sarri enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Napoli between 2015 and 2018
- Atalanta have reportedly tabled a higher salary offer than Napoli’s €2.7 million annual package
- Both clubs have proposed two-year contracts, but Atalanta may offer a longer deal
Italian football is preparing for a major shake-up on the touchline. Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri has emerged as the prime target for two rival Serie A sides looking to strengthen their dugouts.
The vacancy at Napoli arises from Antonio Conte’s decision to step down at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. The former Italy national team manager informed president Aurelio De Laurentiis of his choice in mid-April. Conte joined the Partenopei two years ago and delivered the club’s fourth league title last season. His departure will follow a mutual agreement, meaning he will leave without claiming severance pay.
Sarri stands out as the favourite to succeed Conte at the Stadio Maradona. The 65-year-old previously guided Napoli from 2015 to 2018, twice steering them to second place behind dominant Juventus sides. He is widely expected to exit Lazio when the current term concludes.
However, Napoli face stiff competition from Atalanta. According to transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà, the Bergamo outfit has presented a more lucrative proposal. While both teams have offered initial two-year terms, Atalanta are willing to extend the contract duration. Crucially, their financial package surpasses the €2.7 million per season plus bonuses that Napoli have put on the table. Sarri must now choose between a romantic return to Naples or a fresh challenge in Lombardy.