London - Nothing Antonio Conte said or did managed to dispel the feeling inside the room that he will be the next manager of Chelsea.
Conte was addressing the media ahead of Thursday’s friendly with Spain in what was his first public appearance since confirming last week he would step down as Italy boss after Euro 2016.
He has met Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and is deep into talks over a move to Stamford Bridge. In Italy, they are predicting he will raid Serie A for its top players, including Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain and Radja Nainggolan of Roma. He is expected to demand the return of Juan Cuadrado after his loan at Juventus and wants a centre back. Such gossip swirled around the auditorium as Conte (below) played it straight.
‘English football is coveted by players and managers,’ said the 46-year-old, when quizzed about the lure of Chelsea. ‘I’ve never hidden my will to work in other countries. If that happens soon or not I don’t know but it will happen sooner or later.’
After the Euro 2016 draw, some of the Italian media found Conte at the airport in Paris studying English on his tablet. When questions were put in English, he replied in Italian without need of translation.
While he never claimed to be the next Chelsea manager, he did not object when the questions kept coming.
‘The word Chelsea is not a taboo,’ he said. ‘But I could pronounce the names of Italian clubs, too. At this moment nothing seduces me. I am here, wearing my clothes as national coach.
Daily Mail