Latest news with #AntonioConte
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report Napoli closing on Juanlu Sanchez deal with Sevilla
Napoli are very close to an agreement with Sevilla for right-back Juanlu Sanchez, according to reports in Spain, with a fee worth under €20m. There had already been negotiations for the Spain Under-21 international, who was participating in the European Championship this summer. Juanlu Sanchez pushing for Napoli LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, SPAIN – OCTOBER 10: Juanlu Sanchez of Spain in action during the UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifying match between Spain and Kazakhstan at Estadio Municipal de La Linea on October 10, 2024 in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain. (Photo by) The Partenopei had not been prepared to reach the asking price of €18m plus bonuses, confident in the knowledge that the player was eager to make the move. Advertisement According to Onda Capital in Spain and in Italy, the clubs are now closer to shaking hands for €18-20m including performance-related bonuses. That would bring down the fixed fee and allow Napoli to break it up with some add-ons. A breakthrough could mean medical tests as early as next week. Sanchez turns 22 in August and is a product of the Sevilla youth academy, who this season scored five goals with five assists in 35 competitive games for the club. He has 12 caps for Spain at Under-21 level and can also play in a more advanced role down the right wing, giving him the kind of versatility appreciated by coach Antonio Conte.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Serie A managerial merry-go-round continues after Pisa and Lecce name new coaches
June 26 (Reuters) - The Serie A managerial merry-go-round shows no sign of stopping, with at least 12 of the league's 20 teams set to have new coaches for the upcoming season following appointments at Pisa and Lecce on Thursday. Lecce, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, have handed Eusebio Di Francesco a one-year contract, which will be extended if the club survives another campaign in the top flight. Di Francesco will have another shot at Serie A survival after suffering successive relegations with Venezia and Frosinone. Pisa named Alberto Gilardino as the man to replace his former Italy and AC Milan teammate Filippo Inzaghi. Inzaghi resigned after leading the Tuscan club to promotion and his younger brother Simone also left his job, with his departure from Inter Milan causing a ripple effect. Inter appointed Cristian Chivu as Inzaghi's replacement, and the Romanian's exit from Parma led to them naming Carlos Cuesta as coach, the 29-year-old Spaniard's first managerial role having worked under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal for five years. Surprisingly, after much media speculation to the contrary, champions Napoli remain under the guidance of Antonio Conte, but most of their expected challengers next season, like Inter, will have new men at the helm. Milan sacked Sergio Conceicao after an eighth-place finish last season left them without European football, and Massimiliano Allegri returns for a second spell in charge, having led Milan to the league title in 2011. Another manager making a comeback is Maurizio Sarri, in charge at Lazio having left the club last year, and he replaces Marco Baroni who is now at Torino. Atalanta, after nine seasons under Gian Piero Gasperini, go into the new season with Ivan Juric as manager. Juric had a turbulent time last season, leaving Southampton in April with the club bottom of the Premier League and before that he lasted less than two months at AS Roma. Roma appointed Gasperini to replace Claudio Ranieri, the 73-year-old who appears to have finally retired from management but has a senior advisory role at Roma and recently turned down the Italy job. Italy, after the sacking of Spalletti, went with Gennaro Gattuso, as another contender for the role, Stefano Pioli, appears set to take one of the two vacant spots left in Serie A. Fiorentina had given Raffaele Palladino a contract extension in May, but Palladino left just three weeks later, and Pioli, who parted ways on Wednesday with Saudi club Al-Nassr, is expected to return for a second spell in Florence. Promoted Cremonese have also yet to name their new coach, with Davide Nicola expected to land the job after he left Cagliari and was replaced by Fabio Pisacane. Serie A will have a much-altered landscape next season, and with the new campaign still almost two months away, further changes cannot be ruled out.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Napoli plot bid for Liverpool outcast Darwin Nunez
Napoli are preparing an official bid for Darwin Núñez after identifying the Liverpool striker as the No 1 choice to bolster Antonio Conte's attack for the Champions League. Conte had considered Canada international Jonathan David – a free transfer when his Lille contract expires at the end of this month – but is prioritising Núñez because of his height and physical presence. Núñez, 26, started eight Premier League games last season but also played an important role in Arne Slot's title triumph with his crucial late goals at Brentford for a vital victory. He would be expected to cost around £70 million for a club to buy him this summer, with Liverpool reshaping their squad and already adding Florian Wirtz to Slot's attack. Napoli want to add a striker to Conte's squad, despite Romelu Lukaku being in their ranks and scoring 14 goals in Serie A last season as Conte brought the Scudetto to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager wants a striker to support Lukaku as the club will return to the Champions League, having won the title with no distraction of European football last season. Napoli also have Victor Osimhen but he will be sold if the right deal emerges after being loaned out last season. Núñez arrived from Benfica in 2022 in a deal worth £64 million up front, with the potential to rise to £85 million with performance related add-ons, which was a club record buy until Wirtz's move this summer. Under Jürgen Klopp, Núñez reached double-figures for goals in his first two seasons at Anfield, while last season he scored seven in all competitions. Slot has also bought Jeremie Frimpong this summer, while Napoli have added Premier League experience with Kevin De Bruyne coming on a free transfer after Scott McTominay's signing a year ago. David, meanwhile, could be on the market for English clubs again with a move to Italy hitting stumbling blocks. Juventus were also interested but no agreement has been made, opening the door for a Premier League outfit. West Ham rate the 25-year-old highly but believe he wants Champions League football. There is also interest from Saudi Arabia which would be a lucrative move for the ex-Gent striker.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Kevin De Bruyne held 'talks' with shock Premier League side before joining Napoli on free transfer as Man City legend looks to prove doubters wrong after being refused new deal
Kevin De Bruyne held talks with one of Manchester City 's bitterest Premier League rivals before joining Napoli on a free, a bombshell report has claimed. The Belgian was confirmed as a Napoli star and hailed as 'King Kev' earlier this month as City showed him the door following a decade of impeccable service. De Bruyne, who also considered the prospect of joining Chicago Fire, seemed wistful to be leaving the Etihad but is determined to make a point. The Athletic reports that the 33-year-old opted for Napoli partly so he could prove City wrong for letting him go by showing he can compete at the top level. Napoli recently lifted their second Serie A title in three seasons and Antonio Conte 's side could face City in the Champions League this coming season. However, De Bruyne also had a 'brief conversation' with Liverpool in a revelation that will shock many fans. He was actually a Reds supporter growing up. While in the academy at Genk, he revealed: 'My favourite club is Liverpool and my favourite player is Michael Owen, and I would love to play there one day.' In 2019, he told the Match of the Day magazine: 'I was a Liverpool fan. My family that live in England were all Liverpool supporters so I was, too. 'I loved Michael Owen because I was really small like him and quick, too. I compared myself to him at the time. I liked [Zinedine] Zidane and Ronaldinho too – those really skilful players.' Even considering this, it would have been a jaw-dropping move had De Bruyne actually joined his side's recent rivals. Liverpool and City have shared the last eight Premier League titles (two vs six), and the one to miss out has been runner-up in three of those seasons. The last players to switch between the two clubs were James Milner and Raheem Sterling in 2015-16, with the former joining Liverpool and the latter going to City.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Inzaghi's Al-Hilal sounded out McTominay
Napoli star Scott McTominay is not for sale, but Simone Inzaghi's Al-Hilal still sounded out the Scotland international's availability for a summer transfer. Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal informally enquired about Napoli star McTominay, sources with direct knowledge of the matter inform me. Advertisement The Scotland international was instrumental to Napoli's Serie A title win in 2024-25 and was named the Best Player in the league. Exclusive: Al-Hilal made attempt to sign McTominay Simone Inzaghi is the new coach of Al-Hilal (@AlHilal_FC) McTominay is not for sale, so Napoli didn't even sit down to discuss a potential move to Al-Hilal. Inzaghi was interested in the Scotland international, but Napoli didn't even listen to a formal proposal from the Saudi side. McTominay is more than happy at Napoli and is not considering joining any other club this summer. The Partenopei boss, Antonio Conte, recently spoke about the midfielder's move to the Stadio Maradona last summer, admitting that he did not expect him to complete a transfer from Manchester United. What Conte said about McTominay's summer transfer NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli acknowledges the fans as he celebrates victory following the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by) 'Scott is a player whom I knew really well. He was born and raised at Manchester United,' Conte said. Advertisement 'I could see that he always made an impact when he played, but at the same time, I noticed he wasn't used as a key player at Manchester United. He was hardly a starter. Honestly, we had talked about it with [Napoli director] Giovanni Manna. He told me it was a possible solution. 'Sometimes, directors make up stories also to keep you calm,' Conte continued. 'If you ask me: 'Have you ever thought McTominay would surely arrive?' I'd say no. Don't forget we were heading into a season without European trophies to play for, so he had to leave Manchester United to start over with us.' McTominay scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 34 Serie A games in his debut season in Italy's top flight.
