Italian journalist Alvise Cagnazzo has claimed that Antonio Conte is postponing his talks with Tottenham over a new contract because he wants to leave the North London club at the end of the season.
Over recent weeks, multiple reports have indicated that Tottenham are ready to offer a new deal to Conte.
Football Insider revealed earlier this month that Spurs are willing to offer the Italian a new contract worth more than £20million-a-year, which would make him the highest-paid manager in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Football.London’s Alasdair Gold reported on Sunday that the Tottenham head coach is ready to open discussions with the North London club regarding a new deal.
However, Conte has continued to be tight-lipped on his future, with the 53-year-old stating on Monday that his contract situation is ‘not important’ and that he will speak with the club in due course (Football London).
Cagnazzo believes the Tottenham head coach’s answer likely suggests that he is plotting a return to Italy in the summer.
The journalist wrote in The Daily Mail: “When Antonio Conte postpones talks about renewing his contract, he usually does so because he has decided to leave. It happened at Juventus, it happened at Inter Milan and now it is happening at Tottenham Hotspur.
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“The signs of separation with Spurs are all there and Conte has plenty of recent history of exiting his club early.
“Just a few days after insisting his contract is ‘not a priority issue’, Tottenham suffered a poor defeat which disappointed the fans, a 2-0 loss against Manchester United on Wednesday.
“When journalists ask him about his contract, the Italian coach usually raises his voice and answers with emotion because he doesn’t like questions to which he cannot give immediate answers.
“He only thinks about on-pitch matters, training and results and doesn’t want to hear about anything else.
“Conte is a professional and will give blood, sweat and tears to Tottenham, the club and the fans, even if he does decide to leave at the end of the season. Make no mistake, he will give 100 per cent of his energy to helping his current side.
“Unfortunately, however, his contract at White Hart Lane runs out next summer and it is an opportune time to move elsewhere. Conte feels he needs to be at a top club and if he can’t get it in London, he would prefer to go home to his family in Italy.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I fully expect Conte to sign a new contract with Spurs during the mid-season break for the World Cup. I believe the Italian will stay if he is promised funds to spend, and I believe that the Tottenham hierarchy will give him assurances on the same.
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