Antonio Conte’s 1st demand at Napoli was keeping Kvaratskhelia. His next move might be for Lukaku

By ANDREW DAMPF The Associated Press

Antonio Conte speaks during his official presentation as Napoli soccer team's new coach in Naples, Italy, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Alessandro Garofalo]

ROME (AP) — Antonio Conte is embracing the rebuilding task he faces at Napoli. As long as the results come quickly. Conte inherits a Napoli team that missed out on Europe last season with a 10th-place finish coming a year after the southern squad won its first Serie A title since the days when Diego Maradona played for the club. Napoli finished a whopping 41 points behind champion Inter Milan last month. Conte says “we can’t compete with the usual leaders in terms of salaries. But we can compete in terms of building a solid foundation and work ethic. Under that aspect, nobody should beat us.”