Dismayed Conte could leave Juventus

 

Despite leading Juventus to the top of Serie A last season and the Champions League quarter-finals this, Antonio Conte could head abroad in the summer, writes Christian Crowther...

 

Juventus' outspoken manager Antonio Conte was acknowledged by Jose Mourinho himself as Italy's very own Special One at the beginning of this campaign.

 

The Real Madrid manager was quoted in Tuttosport in September saying: "The fans call Conte the Italian Special One? I like that. I feel honoured. He is a bit like me... I like Conte a lot as a coach. He knows what he wants and is a real winner. He has a lot of charisma."

 

This was high praise indeed from his Portuguese counterpart. However, while Mourinho is probably still unmatched in the charisma stakes, Conte's immediate success as manager of the club he won every domestic and European honour with as a player has quite rightly pushed the Italian to prominence.

 

After delivering the scudetto in an unbeaten debut season in the dugout in 2011/12, Conte has now set Juventus on course for successive titles - currently nine points clear of Napoli and rated at 1.07 to finish the job.

 

In Europe meanwhile, his Juve side have already helped account for the demise of holders Chelsea and now face a last-eight tie against Bayern Munich, where the Italians are available at 2.66 to qualify.

 

Rather ironically, it looks as if Conte could well be among the forerunners to replace Mourinho at the Bernabeu if, as is widely expected, the Portuguese coach leaves at the end of the season.

 

Certain events in Italy this season, and subsequent comments from Conte himself, have cast real doubt over whether he will remain in Turin as manager next season, putting both Real Madrid and Chelsea's owners on red alert.

 

Earlier in the season, he responded to media speculation linking him with a move abroad by issuing comments claiming that it had always been his ambition to one day coach abroad.

 

There have also been a number of outbursts. Never one to shy away from the issue, Conte attacked Bianconeri fans last month for jeering forward Sebastian Giovinco.

 

Now, speculation has intensified to a new level after Conte's latest comments made after his team's trip to Bologna on Saturday night.

 

The Italian tactician was disgruntled at criticism of his enthusiastic celebrations towards the end of the 2-0 victory, believing that Bologna fans throwing sticks and rocks at the team bus prior to entering the stadium was a far graver crime.

 

Conte, who has already made reference to the war-like situation between rival fans, exclaimed: "If I have to expect a welcome like this in Bologna, then I say that it really makes me want to leave Italy and go abroad. It must be a simpler life elsewhere. We are not at war, here. This is sport. In this situation, you may as well just leave."

 

Interestingly, despite leapfrogging Tottenham in the Premier League and securing a Europa League quarter-final for Chelsea, Rafa Benitez is still rated at 1.04 not to be at Stamford Bridge next season. Could it be Conte replacing him?

 

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