MILAN, ITALY – MAY 10: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Corriere dello Sport editor Ivan Zazzaroni has backed Massimiliano Allegri as the ideal candidate to succeed Antonio Conte at Napoli, while claiming Roberto Mancini is all but certain to be appointed as Italy’s next national team coach.
Speaking on Radio KissKiss Napoli, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, Zazzaroni was characteristically direct.
“Allegri-Napoli? He would be the first choice and he would be perfect,” he said. “I would not mind at all if Max came to Napoli. For the national team, Mancini is 99.9% certain.”
Zazzaroni rules out Sarri for Napoli as Allegri emerges as Conte successor
The Corriere dello Sport editor explained his reasoning clearly, arguing that Napoli need an experienced, proven winner to fill the considerable void that Conte, should he leave, would leave behind.
“Napoli after Conte is frightening,” Zazzaroni said. “You need a very experienced, winning coach.” On the alternatives, he was blunt, ruling out Fabio Grosso as not yet ready for a club of Napoli’s stature, and suggesting Maurizio Sarri would instead head to Atalanta.
The comments come at a fascinating moment for both club and country.
Conte’s future at Napoli remains unresolved despite reported progress in talks with De Laurentiis, while the Italy job has been vacant since Gennaro Gattuso’s side failed to qualify for the World Cup.
If Zazzaroni’s assessment is correct, Mancini, who left the Azzurri role in 2023, could be set for a swift and unexpected return to the dugout.
