Chelsea news: AC Milan insist they are ‘not thinking about Antonio Conte’ becoming their new manager
CHELSEA fans will breathe a sigh of relief after AC Milan confirmed they were not interested in poaching boss Antonio Conte.
The Italian, despite winning the Premier League title with Chelsea last season, has been the subject of constant speculation that he he will leave the club.
And a move back to Italy, and in particular AC Milan, appears to be the favoured talking point.
However, in an interview with Italian radio station Radio Rossonera, AC Milan director of football Massimiliano Mirabelli poured cold water on the link.
He said: "We already have a manager and we are not thinking of Conte nor about other managers."
SunSport reported a couple of days ago how Conte was also wanted elsewhere - by the Italy national team.
Conte quit after Euro 2016 to take over at Chelsea and is nearly midway through a three-year deal.
But Italy’s faltering qualification for next summer’s World Cup has prompted senior figures within their FA to launch a lobbying campaign to get him to return.
Current boss Gian Piero Ventura is under huge pressure having only managed to clinch second place in Group G behind Spain.
And the Azzurri face the lottery of a play-off next month to decide their ultimate fate.
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The four-time world champs were humbled 3-0 by Spain and only managed a 1-1 home draw with Macedonia in Turin last Friday.
They finished their campaign with an uninspiring 1-0 win in Albania.
Ventura is under contract until 2020, but a poor showing in Russia next summer could bring a premature end to his tenure.
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