:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63831516/1140450832.jpg.0.jpg)
According to a report from Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano over the weekend, Antonio Conte has chosen his next project, and is set to return to football management by signing a four-year deal with Inter Milan.
Antonio Conte e l’Inter, solo conferme: ormai promessi sposi, intesa di massima già pronta, ipotesi contratto fino al 2023 e una scelta voluta fortemente da Marotta. Il traguardo è vicino @skysport @inter #Conte… https://t.co/zj2ygpq0Gt
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 12, 2019
Conte spent the entire 2018-19 season on hiatus after his bad breakup with Chelsea, where the club sacked him without paying the severance he was entitle to — an issue that eventually went to arbitration where it presumably got resolved (although no one has reported on its actual resolution).
In the meantime, several clubs had reportedly been interested in Conte, especially back in Italy. from Roma finally wanting to hire a top-class manager, to Juventus considering him as the replacement for his replacement, Massimiliano Allegri, and so on. But it would appear that Inter Milan, who are expected to let go of Luciano Spaletti, are going to win this race.
#Spalletti a @SkySport sulle voci su Antonio Conte: "Marotta è giusto che vada a cercare il meglio per l'Inter, io mi difendo"
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 13, 2019
While Conte still lives in England with his family, right near Cobham in fact, a return to Italy was always going to be the likeliest next step in his career. And that is certainly one positive for us, as we probably won’t have to face him anytime soon on the football pitch. (Now watch us get drawn into the same group with Inter in the Champions League next season!)