Conte: "Naples is still in the process of rebuilding."

CAstel di Sangro – Antonio Conte makes it clear right away: Napoli is still a work in progress. “In the year since my arrival, we've acquired 13 players and sold seven, including Osimhen, Kvara, Raspadori, Simeone, Caprile, and Gaetano to Cagliari,” the coach explained. “We've renewed the loans of Lindstrom and Cajuste, and added new players like Ngonge and Rafa Marin. Such a large-scale transfer means we're still rebuilding.”

Conte recalls that the Scudetto came "not at the end of a cycle, but with a group that achieved something extraordinary already in the first year of rebuilding." Now, he says, "we need to take the second step, then the third. Not all donuts come out with a hole, otherwise we'd all be great."

The market and the role of the president

On the market Tale He's clear: "Milinkovic-Savic didn't come for free, we spent €20 million because we consider him important. He'll share the season with Meret: I'm not rejecting Alex, but I needed more guarantees. Donnarumma was left aside in Paris for the same reason: something different was needed."

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The coach confirms that the president is aware of the need to complete the squad. "Those who left did so out of personal choice. I will never keep anyone against their will again. Of course, we need to find a financial solution, but my door is open: whoever wants to stay, stays; whoever wants to leave, is free to do so."

Investing in the present and future

Conte reiterated the club's philosophy: "We're operating in the Napoli style, focusing on players who are useful now but also for the future. Beukema can become the new Rrahmani, Lucca can learn from Lukaku, who has scored 300 goals. Noa Lang needs time to settle in.

Patience is needed, otherwise you'll have to spend huge sums on ready-made players, like PSG who signed Kvara for 75 million." The coach clarifies: "We don't want to overhaul the starting eleven, but rather improve the squad. It's not a whim, it's a numerical necessity."

Good responses from the group, but the construction site is still open.

The retreat was a positive one: "We worked hard on the 4-3-3, a formation that suits this team. I've had good responses from both the old and new players. But it's inevitable that it will take time to integrate the reinforcements into the system. A long season requires having multiple tactical solutions and maintaining balance, which isn't just a philosophy but the foundation of everything."

Conte calls Napoli "a work in progress" and knows the real test will begin with the official matches: "We're on the right track, but rebuilding requires patience and continuous work."