In the midst of speculation surrounding the 56-year-old’s future, president De Laurentiis moved quickly to silence talk of a resignation. His statement delivered a firm defence of the coach and rebuttal of online reports.
“I came across the fairy tale of Conte’s resignation on the web. I love social media a lot because they’re a contemporary and fast way to spread thoughts. But you know that thoughts aren’t always right or shareable.
“Between me and Conte there has always existed a special harmony that unites men who use the 3 “C”s [Character, Competence, and Courage]… which are very popular with Neapolitans and not only.
“To the fans who’ve read some nonsense, I say: I’m proud to have by my side, and by the side of Napoli and the players, a real man like Antonio Conte, capable of sacrificing every second of his life for his profession, with extreme generosity and dedication.
“This is the most important guarantee that can be given today to a club, to the players, and to demanding fans like those of Napoli.”