Conte leaves Inter and unleashes a new Italian derby, with Allegri a great protagonist. Not even the time to archive the Serie A that the market he's already going crazy, or going crazy, depending on your point of view. Because to the sensational intrigue on the benches of Inter and Juve we must add those of the other teams, Naples above all. But let's go in order and start with the news par excellence, namely the divorce between Inter and Antonio Conte, officially announced at 19.22pm yesterday.
“FC Internazionale Milano announces that it has reached an agreement for the consensual termination of the contract with the coach Antonio Conte – the words chosen by Viale della Liberazione -. The entire Club would like to thank him for the extraordinary work he has done, culminating in the conquest of the nineteenth Scudetto, will remain forever in the history of our Club”.
The long-awaited meeting with Zhang, therefore, did not take place, in the sense that there wasn't even a need: too much distance between the Chinese project in the name of downsizing (market with profits of 80-90 million, salary cut 15-20%, sale of one-two big players) and the will of the coach champion of Italy, eager, if not to grow, at least to maintain the current level. It can hardly be like this, unless Marotta and Ausilio manage to perform a true and proper miracle, because some 90-strong pieces will have to leave and the money to replace them, evidently, won't be there. The first match is played on Conte's replacement, greeted with a severance pay of 7,5 million, half of what he would have received by staying until the end of the contract (including arrears and bonuses), provided however that he does not coach any other Italian team until June 2022 (under penalty of loss of compensation).
The name at the top of the list is that of Allegri, until yesterday seemed destined for Juventus but which today, in light of the news, is at the center of a real struggle. Also because, in the meantime, Real Madrid also took the field, determined to bet on him to replace the departing Zidane. Max is therefore the tip of the balance: should he choose Juve, Inter would be forced to look elsewhere (Sarri? Mihajlovic? Or a more exotic track?), vice versa, marrying the Nerazzurri, he would give the pass to returning to black and white by Zizou. Instead, he will not be part of the novel Simone Inzaghi, who yesterday, after a river meeting with Lotito, decided to stay at Lazio: the new contract will expire in 2024 and will guarantee him 2,2 million plus bonuses per season. Meanwhile at Juve, waiting to settle the coaching issue, the first excellent head in the management fell.
It is Fabio Paratici, liquidated after 11 years (9 as vice-Marotta, 2 as Director of the technical area) with an official press release, in which he is thanked for having "written the history of the club with 19 trophies won". In his place, as anticipated in recent days, Federico Cherubini should arrive, who would thus be promoted just like his predecessor: today however, after the eagerly awaited meeting of Exor shareholders, more will certainly be known. Once the bench question has been resolved, we will think about the players, even if we are already moving decisively for someone.
It is the case of Donnarumma, whose divorce with Milan is now a done deal. The arrival of Maignan, French champion with Lille and Lloris' deputy in the national team, definitively sanctioned the break, officially confirmed by Maldini. “The roads are divided, I can only wish him the best – declared the director on the club's Twich channel -. People struggle to understand what it means to be a professional, who must be ready to change his shirt. It's difficult to accept, but you have to have respect for those who have given so much to Milan." An elegant greeting, in line with the character, after acknowledging that there was no longer any room for negotiation.
The background from Milanello tell of a last conversation between the two on Monday, in which Gigio would have reiterated that he wanted to do "everything Mino says". That would Raiola, whose claims (20 million commission to sign the renewal) have horrified the Elliot fund, determined to give a strong signal also to the other players. However, the story changes for those who were to buy him, who would find himself in the squad one of the strongest goalkeepers in the world for only 20 million: at the moment the list of suitors is reduced to Juve and Barcelona, even if both should first sell Szczesny and Ter Stegen. Hectic days also at Napoli, where they are working hard to announce the new coach.
The rumors about Sergio Conceicao, which spread in Portugal on Monday, were promptly denied, as were those about Christophe Galtier, who decided to stay in France. The favorite therefore became Luciano Spalletti, ready to return to the bench after a two-year break (lavishly paid for by Inter) with a two-year deal worth 3 million a season: with De Laurentiis it is better not to take anything for granted, but this time the way it seems at least drawn.
the buffers of Italy