The Napoli coach confirms he decided to leave a month ago, citing “too much poison” around the club environment as Aurelio De Laurentiis stands by his side during an emotional press conference.
The Antonio Conte era at SSC Napoli is officially over.
After Napoli’s 1-0 victory over Udinese Calcio in the final home match of the season, Antonio Conte publicly confirmed that he will leave the club this summer, ending two intense years that brought Napoli back among Italy’s elite.
The announcement came during a highly emotional joint press conference alongside club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, moments after Conte received a standing ovation from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Visibly emotional, the coach walked around the pitch after the final whistle applauding supporters while players and staff embraced him in what had clearly become a farewell ceremony.
Conte admitted he had internally made the decision approximately one month ago.
“I felt after the Bologna match that my journey here was coming to an end,” Conte explained. “There were situations developing around the team and in the media that I didn’t like. I called the president a month ago and told him exactly how I felt.”
The coach strongly denied that financial disagreements or a reduction in sporting ambitions played any role in his exit.
“There was no downsizing of the project,” Conte insisted. “This was my decision.”
Instead, the departing manager focused much of his comments on what he described as a toxic atmosphere surrounding the club.
Conte repeatedly referenced “poison” around Napoli and criticized what he viewed as constant negativity directed toward both himself and the players.
“I failed at one thing here,” he said. “I wasn’t able to unite the environment. If there is poison around the team, if people constantly attack the coach and the players, then you cannot compete at the highest level.”
The former Juventus FC and Italy national football team manager went even further, calling those who create controversy around the club “failures.”
“Napoli does not need failed people,” Conte said. “Those who spread negativity just to get attention or television ratings are harmful to this city.”
Despite the tension surrounding his departure, the relationship between Conte and De Laurentiis appeared remarkably warm throughout the evening.
The Napoli president described the coach as part of his family and confirmed that the two had shared honest conversations about the situation over recent months.
“Our friendship began long before football,” De Laurentiis explained. “This is his home and always will be.”
The president also defended Conte against criticism tied to Napoli’s difficult moments during the season and reiterated that the club remains financially disciplined despite competing against Europe’s richest teams.
At one point, De Laurentiis shifted the conversation toward broader issues in Italian soccer, calling for a complete restructuring of the system and even suggesting Serie A could one day separate itself from the Italian federation in a model similar to the Premier League.
On the field, Conte leaves behind an extraordinary legacy.
Across two seasons, he guided Napoli to the 2024-25 Serie A title and the 2025 Italian Super Cup while restoring the club’s competitive identity after a disastrous campaign before his arrival.
Players also used the evening to publicly thank the coach.
Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo praised Conte for bringing Napoli “back to the highest level,” while striker Rasmus Højlund described him as “one of the best coaches in the world.”
As for what comes next, Conte offered no clear answer.
Linked heavily in recent weeks to the Italian national team and other major clubs, the coach surprisingly suggested he could even take a break from football.
“I could also decide to rest,” Conte admitted.
Meanwhile, De Laurentiis refused to rush into discussions about Napoli’s next manager.
“Calm,” the president repeated when asked about the succession plan. “Napoli will always remain competitive.”
For now, though, the focus remains on the end of one of the most emotional chapters in recent Napoli history.
And as Conte left the Maradona to one final ovation, it was clear that despite the tensions, the city had fully embraced him.
