ANTONIO CONTE UNDER PRESSURE JUST MINUTES AFTER SECURING SERIE A TITLE WITH NAPOLI AS PRESIDENT SENDS BOSS WARNING AMID WILD STREET CELEBRATIONS

Antonio Conte has become the first man to win the Italian title with three different teams

• Napoli win Scudetto for the fourth time after pipping Inter Milan on the final day

• Antonio wins Serie A Coach of the Year but that doesn't impress his president!

Antonio Conte had barely time to bask in winning the Serie A title with Napoli before he was put in his place by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager became the first man to win the Italian title with three different teams as his side saw off Cagliari 2-0 with goals from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku on the final day. 

The result sees Napoli top Serie A by a point after second-place Inter Milan matched their result at Como. 

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is already thinking ahead to next season's targets

Napoli's fourth ever title — and their second in three years  — prompted wild celebrations on the streets of the southern Italian city as smoke bombs, fireworks, and passionate chants filled the air.

The achievement saw Conte crowned as Serie A Coach of the Year but that did not spare him from being immediately put under pressure by his boss who is already starting to think about next season.

Napoli did not play in Europe this season, a consequence of last year's miserable title defence which saw them finish 10th.  

Le scene dei festeggiamenti per la vittoria del campionato del Napoli, stanno facendo il giro del mondo, per la gioia dei milioni di tifosi emigrati. #NapoliCagliari#Napoli #Scudetto #CampioneDItalia #SerieA pic.twitter.com/UMwNKR0WZU

— Marco Ferraglioni (@MFerraglioni) May 23, 2025

And De Laurentiis is hungry for the Neapolitans to get their hands on a first European trophy since the Diego Maradona-inspired UEFA Cup triumph in 1989. 

Scott McTominay puts up four fingers to mark the number of titles won by the Neapolitans

'Never say never,' the 75-year-old told DAZN when asked if Conte was staying.

'Coaches have their own character that must be respected and in my view you should never oblige them under iron-clad contracts. Napoli is Napoli, it deserves respect. If he wants to put himself at the disposal of the club the way he has done this season, then we say welcome, we are ready to follow him like a great leader.

'Next year, I would be very pleased if he made his mark in the Champions League, which since they modified the format has become even more important.'

Napoli supporters party late into the night on the streets of the southern Italian city

Although that may seem a rather churlish way to speak about your league-winning manager to the backdrop of raucous Neapolitan celebration, De Laurentiis did temper those comments with some warm words about Conte. 

'It was not easy, but when I met Conte in the Maldives and many years ago we went swimming together, I was struck by his mentality,' De Laurentiis said.

'I approached him in November 2023 and asked him to come straight away, but very professionally, he said he didn’t build that team, so it was best to wait until June so then we could do something really special together.'

McTominay sent Napoli toward their title triumph on Friday night by scoring a brilliant opening goal. The Scot signed from Man United last summer for £25million and has been a revelation in southern Italy, winning the Serie A Player of the Year award.

Back in Manchester, United boss Ruben Amorim was no doubt looking on with interest just 48 hours after his side were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham in the Europa League final. Across the city, Kevin de Bruyne may also have taken note. 

It's quite the turnaround after the Partenopei finished 10th during last season's title defence

The Belgian legend will leave Man City this summer when his contract expires after a decade at the Etihad Stadium in which he has scored 108 goals and won 19 trophies, including the Champions League.

Napoli has been touted as a possible location for the 33-year-old but when De Laurentiis was asked if a move was on the cards, he was more circumspect with his words. 

'Let us not ask indiscreet questions,' he said.

'We are working to create an even stronger and more competitive squad. We have wonderful players right now and will add more of the highest level.'

- MailOnline Sport

PAULO DYBALA COMMITS TO ROMA, REJECTS $83M SAUDI LEAGUE OFFER

Argentina star Paulo Dybala announced on Thursday that he would remain with AS Roma, ending weeks of speculation linking him with a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah.

Multiple reports indicate that Dybala turned down an offer of €75 million ($83M) over three years.

"Thank you Rome...See you on Sunday," he said in an Instagram post.

Dybala's decision came amid a period of uncertainty about his future. He trained separately from the Roma first team on Thursday and was absent from the starting lineup in their opening Serie A match against Cagliari last Sunday.

Dybala is entering his last year of his contract with Roma but the deal has an automatic extension if he plays at least 15 official matches this season. He will earn €7.5 million plus €2 million in add-ons and bonuses.

Since joining Roma from Juventus in 2022, Dybala has established himself as a key figure in the team. In 78 appearances, he has scored 34 goals and provided 18 assists.

Roma fans had made their feelings clear last week, with protests outside the club's training ground urging the club not to transfer the star.

Dybala's commitment to Roma ignited a frenzy of joy among supporters, who gathered outside his home on Thursday night to celebrate the news.

Al Qadsiah, who made multiple attempts to secure Dybala's services since the beginning of the summer transfer window, is a newly promoted Saudi club with a star-studded roster including former Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez and ex Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Dybala's decision to stay was met with enthusiasm from his Roma and Argentina teammate Leandro Paredes. "For those who haven't understood it, he remains with us," he posted.

- ESPN News Services 

MILAN FIGHT BACK TO BEAT PROMOTEX CAGLIARI 3-1

Reuters 

English duo Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were on target as AC Milan fought back after falling behind at promoted Cagliari to secure a 3-1 Serie A victory on Wednesday.

Tomori and Loftus-Cheek found the net either side of halftime after a first-half equaliser from Noah Okafor.

Stefano Pioli's side secured their fifth Serie A win of the season that moved them up to 15 points in second place, level with leaders Inter Milan, who host Sassuolo later on Wednesday. Cagliari are bottom of the table with two points.

The visitors dominated much of the first half despite conceding the opener, with Tijani Reijnders narrowly missing with an angled attempt in the opening minutes.