Former Chelsea boss Conte opens up on failed Spurs move
Antonio Conte has spoken about his failed move to Tottenham for the first time.
The Italian emerged as the frontrunner to take over in north London after leaving Inter Milan.
He entered negotiations with chairman Daniel Levy but opted against a Premier League return.
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Speaking about the failed talks, Conte said (via Metro): “Money is not my obsession.
“I look at projects and I’m ready to stay at home if they don’t convince me.
“I like difficult challenges but if there is something with a club that does not convince me, I prefer to say ‘no, thank you.'”
Reports suggested Spurs were also put off by the huge transfer demands of Conte. He wanted around £100million to spend on new players, something Levy was not willing to sanction.
Spurs didn’t dwell on the failed appointment and swiftly targeted Paulo Fonseca as a potential solution.
The manager is a free agent after parting ways with Roma at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
The Italian side finished seventh in Serie A on 62 points. They were beaten to Europa League qualification by local rivals Lazio and Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli.
During the previous season, they finished fifth and qualified for Europe as a result.
Fonseca has also taken charge of Porto, Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk.
He guided Porto to the Portuguese Super Cup in 2014. They also reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
He took the reigns at Braga in July 2015 and helped them to win their second ever Portuguese Cup. He left after one successful season in charge.
More trophies followed with Shakhtar Donetsk, including the domestic treble in 2017/18.
Levy will be hoping that Fonseca can bring glory back to Spurs for the first time since 2008.
They look set to lose Harry Kane this summer due to their lack of major honours.
Under Jose Mourinho they reached the Carabao Cup final. But poor league form, and a surprise exit from Europe, saw him sacked just six days before the trip to Wembley.
Ryan Mason was appointed interim boss but couldn’t mastermind an unexpected victory over Pep Guardiola and Man City.
If Fonseca is appointed as Mourinho’s successor, then he will complete a swap with his compatriot.
Mourinho will become Roma’s new manager following the end of the Euros.
