We know that Chelsea FC Manager Antonio Conte is an authoritarian style leader, and sometimes his “my way or the highway” approach doesn’t play well with others. We also know that he has designs on possibly returning to Italy someday soon.
Additionally, the prevailing Chelsea storyline in the news these days is Conte’s feud with Diego Costa, and inevitable Stamford Bridge exit for Costa. You take those three ingredients, mix in the fact that Italian media outlets sometimes play fast and loose with publishing planting stories, and you get today’s explosive concoction.
There’s a narrative circulating on the internet today that Antonio Conte might actually want out of Chelsea.
That’s the situation according to a report from Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The publication says that Chelsea brass are upset with how the manager handled Costa’s future via text message, and how the contents of that message went public. They are rightfully upset because the leak drove Costa’s sale price way down as now the rest of the football world is aware of Stamford Bridge’s desperation to offload him.
Conte has issues with his bosses as well.
After just one season, albeit one that earned a Premier League title, the former manager of the Italian national team is seeking a new, lengthier and richer contract. He also wants that deal to given him a bigger summer transfer window war chest to work with, and more autonomy throughout the organization, at several levels.
Conte’s conflict with Chelsea is centered upon – but not solely limited to – the construction of conditions to win the Champions League.
The Italian believes his personal ambition to secure Europe’s most important club trophy as a coach cannot realistically be achieved without marked improvements to his working conditions.
Foremost amongst these is a demand for substantial transfer market investment in all areas of a squad which Conte has publicly argued is not fit for the purpose of defending the Premier League title while simultaneously competing with Europe’s elite.
The most interesting nugget in all these reports is the claim that Antonio Conte wants a direct line of communication to Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich. He’s wants to be able to consistently connect with the Russian billionaire oligarch, and Vladimir Putin confidant, without going through any middle management corporate types.
So, other than all that is there anything else Conte would like?
If portion(s) of this report seem a bit extreme, and you might find it difficult to believe that Antonio Conte would walk, after just one season, and not defend his title, then remember this story could just be a plant.
It could be agent-driven posturing to get Conte a better deal, while using his love with affair with his home nation as a bargaining chip.
There’s smoke, and maybe some fire, but how much fire indeed remains a mystery.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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