Napoli are preparing for Massimiliano Allegri to replace Antonio Conte, while Aurelio De Laurentiis demands greater consistency and stronger Champions League campaigns. Conte delivered the 2024-25 Scudetto, then finished second in Serie A this season, but Napoli closed the league 11 points behind champions Inter, prompting a new direction at the club.

Conte’s side collected 76 Serie A points this season, the first full Italian campaign under Conte with fewer than 80. Across the five major European leagues, Conte has ended a season with fewer points only twice, earning 70 with Chelsea in 2017-18 and 71 with Tottenham in 2021-22, underlining Napoli’s statistical drop.

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Despite the drop, Napoli stayed near the top under Conte, following the 2024-25 title with second place. However, the club exited the Champions League at the league phase, increasing pressure. After the final Serie A match, Conte and Napoli mutually agreed to end their relationship, opening space for Allegri’s expected appointment.

Allegri is 58 and recently left AC Milan, who missed Champions League qualification on the season’s last day. Reports in Italy state Allegri still has to formally end his Milan contract, yet the coach is widely expected to take charge at Napoli. “We cannot and must not talk about Allegri until we really have him,” said De Laurentiis.

De Laurentiis chose to discuss Napoli’s long-term strategy instead of Allegri’s situation. The president stressed that stability guides all choices at the club and linked this to broader Italian football issues. De Laurentiis highlighted cooperation with the Federation and the need for structural change if Serie A sides want stronger European results.

“Decisions are made seeking consistency. Seeing as we finally have a Federation President who shares my ideas, which football is an industry, albeit an atypical one, I am convinced all of Italian football must work hard and rebuild with Malago. The difference is that Americans are always going forward, whereas in Italy we remain stagnant. Its because the men in power do not move. I have been here for 22 years, we are the only club who kept climbing and climbing. We have to stay up there and must try to improve in Europe.”

De Laurentiis’ comments underline Napoli’s intent to remain near the Serie A summit while pushing harder in the Champions League. The president links club progress to wider national reform and wants Napoli’s steady rise over 22 years to continue, with Allegri expected to guide the team’s next phase once the appointment becomes official.