Quagliarella: Conte ‘insulted me’ as I ‘complained about substitution’ | OneFootball

Fabio Quagliarella reveals Antonio Conte’s reaction to his complaints about a substitution at Juventus: ‘He basically insulted me in front of the team, and I apologised.’

Conte faced Kevin De Bruyne’s anger on Sunday when he replaced the Belgian star during a Serie A match against Milan.

The Italian tactician warned De Bruyne that he had picked “the wrong person” if he was unhappy about the substitution and then reiterated that he’d not accept similar behaviour again in the future.

Former Juventus striker Quagliarella is quite familiar with this situation.

Quagliarella recalls Conte’s anger

Sampdoria’s Fabio Quagliarella celebrates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match between UC Sampdoria and Empoli FC in Genoa, Italy, 19 February 2022. EPA-EFE/LUCA ZENNARO

The ex-Italy international played under Conte in Turin and revealed what happened when he complained to the Italian tactician about a substitution.

“I made a joke saying: ‘Mix these numbers a bit because the 27 always comes out,” Quagliarella told Sky Sport.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“In the meeting the day after the game, he asked me what I had said, and I didn’t want to repeat the joke because we had lost, so I said I had cursed at him instead.”

Quagliarella still vividly remembers Conte’s reaction: “He basically insulted me in front of the team, and I apologised,” the ex-striker said.

De Bruyne’s Napoli stats

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli

scores a penalty goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

De Bruyne has scored three goals – two from the spot – in five Serie A appearances with Napoli.

The Belgian ace had also been replaced during an away Champions League game against his former club, Manchester City, two weeks ago.