Napoli Weighs a Coaching Shuffle: Xavi and Motta Enter the Conte Replacement Frame

Context of the Speculation

A Spanish sports report on Wednesday revealed a surprising twist in Napoli’s plans for Antonio Conte’s successor. Napoli is weighing the idea of parting ways with Conte after their latest Serie A defeat to Bologna (0-2) and a goalless draw at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, but the early 6-2 hammering in Eindhoven remains the loudest alarm bell.

Many voices are calling for Conte’s dismissal, sparking talk of a possible replacement with two marquee names leading the discussions: Xavi Hernandez and Thiago Motta. According to the Catalan newspaper Sport, Xavi has not taken charge of a team since leaving Barcelona in summer 2024, after a trophy-light season, and has fielded several offers, turning them all down in search of a project that truly fits his ambitions. His latest reported rejection was reportedly Spartak Moscow.

Meanwhile, Motta guided Bologna to the Italian Cup final, though his stints at Juventus afterward were rocky, his reputation still intact in Italy. Napoli’s flirtation with Xavi has created a buzz so intense that club president Aurelio De Laurentiis publicly reaffirmed Conte’s continued role — at least for the moment.

Yet the public stance hasn’t cooled the chatter, and the sense grows that Conte’s position is increasingly precarious ahead of upcoming fixtures against Atalanta and Qarabakh. De Laurentiis has historically been unafraid to back or reshuffle leadership, but the optics of this moment are complicated by the team’s mixed results and looming European ties.

Word from Aurelio De Laurentiis

When Napoli faced Barcelona in the Champions League late in 2023, De Laurentiis spoke highly of a Barcelona side coached by Xavi, saying, “he’s a real team,” a remark that has since been revisited amid Napoli’s current uncertainties. The ongoing friction between De Laurentiis and Conte, two stubborn, results-driven personalities, has persisted for some time and may be nearing a turning point.

Amid the chatter, Xavi resurfaced in the Barcelona scene through the unveiling of the project “Barça That We Want,” which rallies diverse factions to support the presidential candidate Victor Font. Whether Napoli’s overt interest will culminate in a formal bid or fade away remains to be seen, but the narrative continues to gain traction as the club eyes its next steps.

The Beginning and the Appointment

On June 5, 2024, Conte was appointed Napoli coach on a three-year contract, stepping into a challenging rebuild after a season ending only tenth and European exile — a stark reversal for a club that had previously claimed the Italian title. Conte, famed for his trophies across Italy and England, arrived with high expectations to restore Napoli’s former glory.

Building a New Team and Early Challenges

From the start, Conte declared the squad needed a “full rebuild from the ground up.” In the transfer window, the club pursued fresh options, among them Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku. Despite a harsh opening defeat (0-3), the team showed signs of improvement with a run of consecutive wins, though tensions simmered behind the scenes over transfers and funding—a palpable undercurrent to a season of hard work.

Achievement and Transformation

On May 23, 2025, Napoli, under Conte, clinched the Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Cagliari, finishing one point ahead of Inter Milan. The triumph restored Napoli’s stature and stood as evidence that Conte could steer a rebuilding project to a successful finish. In the aftermath, De Laurentiis proclaimed Conte would remain as coach, declaring that the club had become “stronger than before.”

What This Journey Signifies

Conte delivered more than many expected in roughly a single season, turning Napoli from a squad in decline to a championship-winning side. The team displayed renewed character, higher morale, and improved defensive discipline, enabling efficiency against formidable opponents. Yet the longer-term project remains in its early stages; maintaining the level, competing in Europe, and building robust infrastructure will be essential moving forward.

What Napoli Achieved This Season

Napoli rejoined the Champions League this season after missing out the previous year. The campaign began with a poor away loss to Manchester City (0-2), followed by a 1-2 victory over Sporting Lisbon at the Maradona. The biggest shock arrived in a 2-6 defeat at Eindhoven, with a draw against Frankfurt to follow. Domestically, Napoli started strong and led the table for several weeks but then endured a streak of disappointing results, including a 0-0 draw with Como and a 0-2 loss to Bologna, with earlier losses to Torino (1-0) and Milan (2-1). Across 11 rounds, Napoli produced 7 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, scoring 16 and conceding 10, totaling 22 points and sitting two points off the summit.

Punchlines time: If Napoli keeps this up, even their trophies will need a GPS to find the net. And if the coach’s chair keeps wobbling, the club’s new anthem could be “We Will Survive” — sung in Italian, English, and the chorus of transfer rumors.