Antonio Conte will agree to remain Inter’s head coach on one condition, according to a report in the Italian media.
FcInterNews.it said Conte would not make a decision on his future until he meets Steven Zhang, which should happen in the next week or so, but his ideas are already clear.
Conte is happy at Inter and does not intend to leave the club, having created a close-knit group which has dominated Serie A and won the title at a canter this season.
But in order to stay at the club, he wants Suning to promise they will not sell players he considers irreplaceable: Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar, Alessandro Bastoni, Achraf Hakimi, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku.
Conte believes Inter’s squad would need improving if they were to try and make progress in Europe, but he is aware of the club’s financial problems and knows he cannot make unreasonable demands.
He would therefore be happy just to keep the players he already has, with the eight above considered ‘untouchable’ if Inter are to keep winning.
Conte is prepared to accept other players leaving, given that Inter will have no option but to cut costs and recoup some funds in the transfer window.
He is also happy to stay without much chance of making progress in the UEFA Champions League, as long as Inter’s directors are clear with everyone from the start and do not put pressure on him to go deep in the competition.
By keeping hold of his team’s spine, Conte is convinced he can win the Serie A title again and this is a view shared by Beppe Marotta.
Conte staying would be hugely important for the futures of Inter’s players, too, because they would trust his judgment on the club’s project and find it easier to agree to remain themselves.
Nothing will be certain though until Conte sits down with Zhang and talks through Suning’s plans.
