News Focus
- Vincenzo Italiano is now the leading candidate to take over at Napoli
- The Bologna manager held face-to-face talks with club officials on Tuesday
- Massimiliano Allegri remains an alternative option for the Partenopei
- Italiano must negotiate his release from Bologna before any move
- President Aurelio De Laurentiis prefers Italiano due to lower wage demands
SSC Napoli have identified Vincenzo Italiano as their top choice to become the club’s new head coach. The 46-year-old has moved ahead of Massimiliano Allegri in the running for the job after a successful round of meetings with the Serie A side’s hierarchy.
Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is hunting for a replacement for Antonio Conte. The former manager left the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at the end of the last campaign, despite guiding the team to their fourth Scudetto triumph just one year earlier.
Maurizio Sarri was originally among the favourites to return to Naples. However, those plans ended when the former Chelsea boss decided to reunite with Cristiano Giuntoli at Atalanta instead.
Attention then shifted to Italiano and Allegri. Sources including Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport Italia report that Italiano impressed De Laurentiis during Tuesday’s discussions. The coach still has twelve months remaining on his contract with Bologna FC 1909.
Italiano is scheduled to meet with Bologna directors on Thursday. He hopes to reach an agreement that would allow him to terminate his contract early and complete the switch to Naples.
Allegri has not been dismissed from the process entirely. Reports suggest the former Juventus boss would accept a two-year deal with an option for a third season. However, De Laurentiis is reportedly concerned about Allegri’s difficult exit from AC Milan. The president also notes the significant wage gap between the two men. Allegri earned €6 million per year at the San Siro, double the €3 million salary Italiano currently receives at Bologna.