Al-Ittihad Eyes Antonio Conte with Lucrative Offer as Italy Faces Coaching Uncertainty

Antonio Conte has emerged as the leading target for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, which is reportedly preparing a highly attractive contract to appoint the Italian coach as its new manager. The move could complicate Italy's search for a new national team head coach.

Al-Ittihad is closely monitoring Conte's situation after his departure from Napoli at the end of the 2025/26 season. The club is looking for a replacement following Sergio Conceição's brief tenure and believes Conte's experience makes him the ideal candidate to lead the team.

At the same time, the Italian national team is also considering Conte as one of its top options after major changes within the national setup. The departures of Gennaro Gattuso, Gianluigi Buffon, and Gabriele Gravina have prompted a restructuring process, with newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malagò expected to oversee several key appointments.

Italy is first expected to name a new technical director before finalizing its choice of head coach. Paolo Maldini has reportedly been mentioned among the candidates for the technical role, while Conte and Roberto Mancini remain prominent names linked with the managerial position.

Despite strong interest from the Italian Football Federation, Al-Ittihad's financial proposal could become a decisive factor if Italy delays making an official offer. Conte is therefore facing an important career decision between returning to international football with his home country or accepting a lucrative opportunity in Saudi Arabia.