Maurizio Sarri nearing Napoli return, contract ready | OneFootball

As reported by Il Mattino, via CalcioNapoli24, Maurizio Sarri is close to succeeding Antonio Conte as the Napoli head coach.

Conte is expected to vacate his seat at the end of the season amid reports strongly linking him to the Italy men’s national team job. Sarri, who left Napoli eight years ago after a three-year stint during which the Partenopei almost took the Serie A crown off Juventus, is about to end his first season back at Lazio, having registered an underwhelming campaign and recently lost the Coppa Italia final against Inter.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has already drawn up a three-year contract worth €2.6 million plus add-ons for the 67-year-old, who is keen to return to the club where he established himself at the very top of club football management.

The time is right

It’s hard to forget the wrath of the Napoli faithful Sarri incurred when he joined Juventus a year after leaving Napoli, even though it was much less ferocious compared to what Gonzalo Higuain went through.

That, however, was in part because the Argentine had moved to Turin from Napoli directly, while Sarri took a year-long detour during which he lifted the Europa League trophy with Chelsea.

However, in this case the past need not dictate what happens between the two in the near future. Eight years have passed, and Juve are no longer the incessant domestic powerhouse they once were, recently exemplified by a late tumble that could see them lose out on Champions League football right at the end. Napoli, in comparison, remain near the top, having twice reached the summit.

Theirs is no longer a project that needs years of work before they can challenge for titles and topple a monopoly. They are one of the contenders now, and the squad is ready for Sarri to pick up where he left off. 

Napoli are already moving on from Antonio Conte at the right time. Replacing him with a coach who did wonders with them when few expected, and who has since won major silverware to boost his credentials, would make them well set to mount a charge next season. 

Anshuman Joshi | GIFN