Antonio Conte will only leave Inter if he feels he has no other choice, as per a report in the Italian media today.

Corriere dello Sport’s print edition confirmed Conte wanted to stay and continue his project with the Nerazzurri, building on the work he has done during the last two seasons.

Conte is on excellent terms with Inter’s players, having pushed all the right buttons to drive them towards the Serie A title in emphatic style.

However, he does not want to be a miracle worker again next season and will therefore ask Steven Zhang for reassurance about Suning’s plans, before committing his future to Inter.

Conte’s departure is a possibility that cannot be excluded, the Rome-based paper warned, especially if Suning are planning to take a backwards step and reduce their ambitions.

Inter cancelled Conte’s pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s match at home to Roma, fearing he would speak out of turn during a period of unease and uncertainty.

Conte has always put the brakes on any discussions regarding his future in recent weeks, encouraging everyone in interviews to enjoy the present and celebrate the Serie A title.

It will become harder and harder to bite his tongue though, the report added, because Inter’s situation behind the scenes appears to be increasingly muddled.

Conte did not attend Zhang’s meeting with Inter’s players at Appiano Gentile on Monday, when the Nerazzurri’s president asked each member of the squad to give up two weeks’ wages.

Instead, Conte went cycling with team manager Lele Oriali and the report argued this probably wasn’t an encouraging sign for Inter.