Spurs ‘ABANDON pursuit of Antonio Conte’
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Tottenham’s pursuit of former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has faltered amid concerns from the Italian over the club’s ambitions.
Talks between Spurs and Conte are under way, but it is understood Conte is stalling with Tottenham officials now seriously doubting whether appointing the former Inter Milan boss is possible.
Conte is chairman Daniel Levy’s preferred candidate after missing out on Julian Nagelsmann and Brendan Rodgers, while bringing Mauricio Pochettino back to the club from Paris Saint-Germain has proved complicated.
Talks with Conte will continue over the weekend but Spurs need to convince him of their long-term project. Conte, 51, wants assurances the club are serious about eventually challenging for major silverware.
While Conte stalled over the offer from Spurs, the north Londoners also grew concerned with the 51-year-old’s age and whether he would offer first team opportunities to young players.
Fabrizio Romano also reports that Conte was unconvinced of the club’s project as well as an inability to bring more than four staff members, while their remained a big difference in salary expectations between the Italian and Spurs chiefs.
Former Chelsea boss Conte is used to winning trophies and wanted assurances that the club are serious about eventually challenging for major silverware.
Earlier on Friday, Conte revealed he was open to leaving Italy and working abroad, having enjoyed success in west London with the Blues.
‘I would like to have more experiences abroad,’ Conte told DAZN. ‘I think that I am not someone who is happy with just a comfortable situation. I always chose the most difficult situation instead.
‘As a player, I won everything it was possible to win, but I also lost a great deal. When you lose, it leaves within you the desire not to experience that again, so you do everything to transmit that to your players when you are a coach. It all comes from your scars and wanting to avoid getting more.’
Meanwhile, Spurs are pressing ahead with their plan to appoint former Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici, regardless of whether Conte joins.
The Spurs squad needs a major rebuild, which would require significant transfer funds and Conte wants guarantees that Tottenham are serious about investing in the squad.
Paratici is set to join in a role linked to player recruitment. He will work alongside the club’s current player transfer staffing structure.
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