ROME (AP) — Antonio Conte appears ready to leave Napoli less than a year after guiding the southern club to its fourth Serie A title.
The fiery coach is openly campaigning for the vacant Italy job after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Conte Eyes Italy Return
"If I were the federation president I would consider myself," Conte said after Napoli's 1-0 victory over AC Milan on Monday. "I've already been with the national team and I know what it's like."
Such a move would mark a return for Conte, who previously coached Italy at the European Championship a decade ago.
Federation Uncertainty
Currently, the Italian soccer federation has only a lame duck president after Gabriele Gravina announced his resignation, with new elections called for June 22.
Gennaro Gattuso, who coached Italy in the World Cup qualifying playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, also resigned.
Napoli's Season Prospects
Napoli can focus on its late-season surge after leapfrogging Milan into second place with a visit to Parma coming up on Sunday.
Napoli trails league leader Inter Milan by seven points with seven rounds remaining.
"It's not a question of believing or not; it's about being realistic," Conte said. "We would have to be perfect and Inter would have to make several missteps."
Conte's Trophy Departures
If Conte does leave Napoli, it would follow similar exits immediately after or soon after titles at:
- Bari (Serie B title in 2009)
- Juventus (third straight Serie A title in 2014)
- Chelsea (FA Cup in 2018, Premier League title in 2017)
- Inter (Serie A title in 2021)
Inter Milan Update
Inter visits neighboring Como on Sunday for its shortest trip of the season.
Inter's training center north of Milan is located less than 20 kilometers from Como's Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia — about half as far as the trip to the San Siro.
Inter routed Como 4-0 in December but held to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals last month. The second leg is scheduled for April 21.
Inter's 5-2 thrashing of Roma last weekend marked its first victory since February.
Hakan Calhanoglu produced one of the goals of the season against Roma with a 30-meter blast that dipped under the bar. It was his ninth Serie A goal this season.
Around Serie A
Cesc Fabregas' Como is unbeaten for nearly two months and is looking to hold on to fourth place and the final Champions League berth.
Juventus center forward Dusan Vlahovic will miss another three weeks with an injured calf muscle.
Vlahovic's injury issues could affect his contract negotiations with Juventus, which is offering a brief extension at a reduced salary.
Asked for solutions to the national team's problems, Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti suggested requiring every Serie A club to use at least one Italian under-19 player in its starting lineup.
Spalletti was fired as Italy coach last year after the Azzurri lost their opening qualifier to Norway.