Italian coach Antonio Conte has indicated he will continue his sabbatical until the end of the year, despite reports linking him to managerial openings at Manchester United and Juventus. Speaking via a video message sent to the Festival dello Sport in Trento, the 57-year-old confirmed he is currently outside of Italy and is using the year as an opportunity to relax and rest.
Conte’s name has emerged as a potential candidate amid instability at both clubs. At Manchester United, manager Michael Carrick is under pressure following a slow start to the English Premier League season, with the team sitting in 12th place—10 points behind leaders Manchester City—after recording only one win and two losses in five matches. Meanwhile, Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has faced scrutiny since the previous season when the club finished sixth and failed to qualify for the Champions League; the Bianconeri have continued to show inconsistent form this season with three wins and one loss in five league games.
Tribute to Juventus History
The video message was sent to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Juventus squad that won the 1996 Champions League. Reflecting on that era, Conte described the success as the most important for that Juventus team and praised the human relationships within the squad and the guidance of coach Marcello Lippi, whom he called a great coach
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While acknowledging the celebration, Conte stated, I would love to be there with all of you, but at the moment I am not in Italy. I am still enjoying my vacation, viewing this year as my opportunity to rest and relax
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A Pattern of Sabbaticals
This period of inactivity follows Conte’s departure from his role at Napoli in the summer of 2025/2026. This is not the first time the manager has taken a break between roles. He previously spent a year away from coaching after leaving Chelsea in 2018 before joining Inter Milan in 2019, and he took another break between March 2023 and the summer of 2023 after resigning from Tottenham Hotspur.
While speculation persists regarding his future, Conte has not confirmed any interest in the positions at Manchester United or Juventus.
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