Conte, who won the Scudetto with Napoli already in his first season, enjoys great trust at the club and has a valid contract until the summer of 2027. However, his desire to return to the Azzurri bench has never faded. He already led Italy from 2014 to 2016, including their appearance at the 2016 European Championship, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Germany on penalties.
Within the Federation, there is broad support for his return, and the political connections between De Laurentiis and Giovanni Malagò further facilitate a potential agreement.
On the other hand, the return of Roberto Mancini to the national team raises numerous dilemmas. Although he brought Italy the title at Euro 2021, his sudden departure in 2023, when he took over the Saudi Arabian national team, left a bitter taste.
The Federation is questioning how reliable it is to rebuild a project around a coach who has already unexpectedly left the position once.
Massimiliano Allegri, who was often mentioned as a candidate, has practically ruled himself out of contention. The Milan coach clearly stated that his focus is on club duties and returning Rossoneri to the Champions League.
Italian football is at a sensitive moment after failing to qualify for the World Cup, and a key step will be the election of the new Federation president on June 22. The candidates, including Malagò and Giancarlo Abete, must present their programs by mid-May.
By the autumn and the Nations League matches, Italy should have a new coach, a man tasked with returning the national team to the top of European and world football.
At this moment, everything indicates that Conte is the closest to a return and a new beginning for the Azzurre.