Fabrizio Romano has played down talk of Antonio Conte leaving Tottenham amidst rumours of a potential switch to Paris Saint-Germain and insists the Italian will discuss his future with the club at the end of the season.
Conte, who joined Spurs in November after the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo, has managed to lead his side into a Premier League top-four race with just five games to go.
The 52-year-old has recently been linked with the PSG manager role, with reports emerging that current boss Mauricio Pochettino is on the verge of being dismissed from his position (The Times and La Parisien).
90min has since suggested that Spurs are confident of retaining the services of Conte heading into next season despite talk of his head being turned in the direction of the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions.
And now Romano has provided a detailed update regarding the speculation, to which he has reiterated that any decision made regarding his future will be scrutinised at the end of term after Tottenham’s pursuit for a spot in next season’s Champions League.
He said on The Here We Go Podcast: “The first thing I want to clarify on this Antonio Conte story [offering himself to PSG] is regarding the rumours you are reading around England, France, wherever are not from Antonio.
“It is important to say from Tottenham fans too that it is not Antonio Conte or people close to him who are spreading stories of Antonio Conte set to join Paris Saint-Germain and this kind of thing.
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“Antonio, we know him and how he works, he is convinced that getting the Champions League spot with Tottenham would be like winning the title. It is not a title, but would be like winning the title.
“If you think of what happened in November with Nuno and the rebuilding of everything at Tottenham so that’s why for Antonio now the focus is on the pitch and for these really complicated final games and then, as he has always said at the end of the season he will discuss with the club, Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici.
“Antonio will be really clear because he is convinced, Champions League or not to continue with Tottenham they need to have something important. It means new signings, it means new contracts for important players.
“There are many things to do, for example, Harry Kane, he has to stay at the club. There are many points for Conte to continue at Tottenham, but this is something which will be discussed in May, after the Champions League spot race and not before.”
Romano added: “So that is why you can read many rumours which is of course normal for Paris Saint-Germain to consider other managers because the rumours of Pochettino being close to leaving the club are true.
“So for Mauricio Pochettino there are new chances to leave the club at the end of the season and we are waiting for communications from Paris Saint-Germain and this has been in the air since February so for Pochettino it seems clear.
“But for Conte, we need to wait until the end of the season and then he will speak with Tottenham and then we will have the final answer. So let’s respect a bit, Tottenham and Antonio Conte with this story.”
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There will always be rumours circulating about Conte as that is just how he has operated throughout his managerial career.
His first thoughts will no doubt be on the top four race at the moment and hopefully can Spurs can come out on top there, which could make his decision on his future at the end of the season a bit easier.
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