Reports: Conte’s Future Uncertain

The Italian media is a beast that never ceases to amaze. On the same day that Milan inched closer to losing Gianluigi Donnarumma on a free transfer and UEFA officially opened disciplinary proceedings against Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus, Inter was the name in the headlines. Today’s feature of creating/reporting Inter related news was more disagreeable than usual, however. And unfortunately, it very well could turn out to be true.

According to both Sky Italia (via Di Marzio) and Gazzetta Dello Sport, Conte’s future is very much up in the air, only days after the Nerazzurri lifted its first trophy in a decade. Despite last week’s €270 million loan from Oaktree, Inter’s finances still appear to be hanging on by a thread. Rather, the loan seems to have only dumped a few buckets of water out of Inter’s sinking financial ship than steadied the rocking. According to reports, Steven Zhang has made it clear that Inter needs to raise €70 million in sales and cut the wage bill by 15%-20%. Funds of that level won’t be garnered from selling on-loan or bench players, so the starting XI is now in danger of the transfer market. And understandably, Antonio Conte isn’t too pleased by that.

With Fabrizio Romano backing up Sky and GdS’ reports, the frailties of Suning’s pockets don’t seem exaggerated. Conte also seems unlikely to deter from his position that the squad must be strengthened, not weakened. The best-case scenario involves either party stepping back from their demands and finding a way to work together until finances are more secure. Suning, however, has to show that this period of low spending is only for the short-term, or else a coach of Conte’s caliber won’t stick around.

For now, all we can do is hope Inter’s brass can ease the situation to a continued partnership like last summer when Conte also threatened to leave. One way or another, however, we should know whether the man who brought Inter its nineteenth Scudetto will be prowling the sidelines at the San Siro come August within a few days.

Just another week of Pazza Inter...