Conte’s long-term future is in doubt (Picture: Getty)
Conte’s long-term future is in doubt (Picture: Getty)

Antonio Conte has thrown his long-term Chelsea future into doubt by claiming he misses Italy and insisting he doesn’t plan to stay abroad for too long.

The former Juventus boss won the Premier League in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge in style and has been heavily praised for his adaptation to the English game after a spell with the Italian national team.

Despite having signed a new two-year contract in July, Conte’s future has always been a question of uncertainty and he was heavily linked with a move back to Italy with Inter Milan in the summer.

While that didn’t materialise, Conte confirmed his plans to return to his native Italy sooner rather than later and insists his time away from his home country will be shorter rather than long.

Conte told Radio Anch’io Sport: ‘I miss Italy, there is no doubt.

Will he leave? (Picture: Reuters)

‘It is not in my mind to stay abroad for a long time. Italy is my country. I will return, I don’t know when but that is the aim.’

When pushed further about what other countries he would enjoy working in, he ruled out a move to China but kept himself open to a spell in Germany.

‘China? No, absolutely not,’ he added. ‘Bundesliga? It’s always difficult to predict the future. Let’s just say that a coach is a temporary worker.

Chelsea have enjoyed real success under the Italian (Picture: AFP/Getty)

‘It depends on the results, but there’s desire on my part to try to do the best I can, finishing one project and then finding the right one to continue. I miss Italy, that’s a fact.

‘Still, this experience is helping me so much. I would also like to change role, maybe become a sporting director in the future.

‘Are we better than the English? There are practically no English managers in the Premier League.

‘There are so many parts of the world here, but everyone here is good, prepared and among the best in the world.’

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