Steven Zhang fully expects Antonio Conte to stay at Inter next season, according to a report in the Italian media today.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s print edition said the Nerazzurri president was ‘very optimistic’ he could convince Conte to remain as head coach.
Conte is very attracted by the prospect of fighting for Inter’s 20th Scudetto, which would deliver a second star on their shirts, but he first wants reassurance on many aspects.
Zhang is ready to offer Conte such reassurance when the pair meet to discuss his future, which should happen before Sunday’s final Serie A match against Udinese.
Inter’s president intends to tell Conte that the squad will remain highly competitive and that Inter’s financial problems from this season will not repeat themselves.
Conte is therefore expected to stay at Inter and that has always been the likely scenario, the Milan-based paper explained, because he has never wanted to leave.
Inter’s boss doesn’t want to start from scratch at another club when he could continue the two-year job he’s done with the Nerazzurri, the report added.
Zhang must make sure he does not ‘betray Conte’s ambition’, and in that sense it will be important what words he uses when he meets Conte and Inter’s directors.
Conte is on great terms with Inter’s players and nobody wants to squander the advantage Inter have built up over their Serie A rivals.
