Napoli v Inter: sparks fly as Conte and Lautaro row at Maradona | OneFootball

In the Napoli-Inter novel, there was also room for the public long-distance spat between Lautaro Martinez and Antonio Conte. A squabble that erupted in the 61st minute and further ignited the spirits of a match filled with goals, referee controversies, and contested decisions. The reconstruction and the precedent from 4 years ago in the Nerazzurri.

Napoli-Inter, sparks between Conte and Lautaro Martínez: the backstory behind the heated argument at Maradona

It wasn't just a simple Napoli-Inter match that took place at Maradona. The big match, already marked by controversies over the penalty awarded to the Partenopei, degenerated into a heated confrontation between Antonio Conte and Lautaro Martínez. Shouts, gestures, and old grudges reignited a tension rooted in the two years spent together at Inter. Here's what really happened and where the friction between the Salento coach and the Nerazzurri captain originates.

The incident at the 61st minute: the trivial clash that lights the fuse

It all starts from an apparently harmless episode. In the 61st minute, Dumfries remains on the ground after a clash with Olivera. From the Azzurri bench, Conte urges his player to get up and not exaggerate the fall: a gesture that provokes an immediate reaction from the Nerazzurri, particularly from Lautaro Martínez.

According to several lip readings captured by the cameras, the Argentine reportedly shouted at his former coach: “You talk, you talk but you're scared,” accompanying the phrase with a theatrical gesture.

Conte, visibly irritated, responds bluntly: “Laugh at this crap…”, his lip reading caught on the sidelines.

Referee Maurizio Mariani intervenes only to caution Conte, leaving Lautaro unpunished. However, the tension remains palpable until the final whistle.

Conte after the match: “Squabbles are part of the game”

In the post-match, Conte downplays the episode. Interviewed by DAZN, the Apulian coach does not want to fuel the controversies, but the nervousness is evident. “In matches like this, certain sparks can happen,” declares the Napoli coach, trying to calm the tones.

Then, however, he adds a phrase that hints at the sore point: “I brought Inter back to winning a championship after ten years, breaking Juventus' streak. Lautaro is a great player, but from a human point of view, I know him little. Two years are not enough to really know a player.”

A diplomatic response only in appearance, confirming that a true personal harmony never blossomed between the two.

The roots of the chill: the 2021 episode and the never-dissipated tension

To understand the origins of the conflict between Conte and Lautaro, one must return to 2021, when the two shared the Inter locker room. During a match against Roma, the coach substituted the Argentine forward, who reacted angrily by kicking a bottle and letting out harsh words.

Conte did not take it well and confronted him publicly: “You should kick yourself in the face, Lautaro! Phenomenon of crap!” he shouted on the sidelines, in a dialogue that went viral in the following days.

Only the intervention of Lele Oriali temporarily restored calm, but the episode left evident marks on the relationship. Since then, a formal professional respect has remained between the two, but without real empathy.

A rivalry that withstands time

The altercation in Napoli-Inter reflects a bond never fully mended. Conte and Lautaro represent two strong, competitive personalities, accustomed to dominating the scene. Their shared past at Inter produced significant results, but also latent tensions that resurfaced in the context of a highly emotionally charged challenge.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.