Conte opens door to Italy return after Gattuso exit |

Napoli coach Antonio Conte has said Italy should consider him for the vacant national team job.

The position became open after Gennaro Gattuso resigned on Friday following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time.

Conte, who is under contract at Napoli until 2027, spoke after his side’s 1-0 Serie A win over AC Milan on Monday.

He said: “It’s expected that my name appears on the list of candidates for the national team.

“If I was the federation’s president, I would consider my name.”

Conte added: “But, you know my contractual situation, I’ll meet with my president at the end of the season and we will see.”

The 56-year-old previously managed Italy between 2014 and 2016, leading the four-time world champions to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, where they were eliminated on penalties by Germany.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said he would not stand in the way of a potential move.

He told website Calcionapoli24: “If Conte asked me to allow him to become the national team coach again, I would say yes.”

Gattuso’s departure came 24 hours after Gabriele Gravina stepped down as president of the Italian football federation (FIGC).

Massimiliano Allegri has also been linked with the role.

However, a replacement for Gattuso is not expected until after the FIGC’s extraordinary meeting scheduled for June 22 to elect a new president.

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